Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

The idea of using organic materials for solar cells has led to a great deal of research into the optical and electronic properties of suitable materials and has given rise to many questions revolving around what governs the photo-generation and separation of electric charge in these materials. As new questions such as these arise, new instrumentation and techniques are required to investigate them. Two key areas of my research program are the development of emerging and novel combined optical and scanning probe microscopy techniques for the nanoscale investigation of optical and electronic properties, and the application of these techniques to prototype materials for organic photovoltaics. The equipment requested consists of the optical instrumentation needed to develop these new techniques and engage in the study of organic photovoltaic materials on the nanoscale. A spectrometer for low light conditions is requested to measure the energies of states within the sample excited either by light or electrons injected into the material locally. A number of laser sources are also requested to excite optical transitions in these nanoscale materials which will then be locally probed by scanning tunneling microscopy or atomic force microscopy to measure the material's response to optical excitation. This optical equipment will be integrated with a low-temperature (5K) ultrahigh vacuum scanning probe microscope (separately funded) to develop these techniques and apply them to novel materials. There are only a few groups in the world performing measurements of this type, and while they are challenging techniques to apply and develop, the benefit is to give Canadian research an edge in this key area of alternative energy technology and remain globally competitive in a changing energy market.