FOR 1616:  Dynamics and Interactions of Semiconductor Nanowires for Optoelectronics

• Subject Area: Physics ; Chemistry ; Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering ; Materials Science and Engineering
• Term: from 2012 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 186128001

Semiconductor nanowires are the ideal tools for the investigation of the fundamental limits of one-dimensional optoelectronic and photonic devices. In many aspects, they are superior to their bulk or thin-film counterparts. Until now, in almost all cases the bare nanowire itself has been in the focus of research. Therefore, today we have very good control over growth and properties of semiconductor nanowires and proto-type optoelectronic devices are available. The next essential step is the integration of nanowires into specific functional environments to fully exploit their unique and superior physical properties. The Research Unit is dedicated to the dynamics and interactions of semiconductor nanowires for optoelectronics and studies the physical and technological aspects of the interaction mechanisms between semiconductor nanowires and their environment: We meet the challenge to determine the chances and the fundamental and practical limitations of functionalised nanowires for the realisation of efficient optoelectronic devices. The scientific work will lead to detailed insights into the coupling mechanisms of nanowires to their environment and help to identify and propel future developments in this field. Topics that are addressed within the Research Unit include the study of polaritons resulting from the strong light-matter interaction in nanowire cavities that can be used for efficient room-temperature multicolor LEDs or nanolasers. Collective effects from nanowire arrays can help to tailor the emission or absorption dynamics, thus, optimising the performance of future nanowire-based optoelectronic devices. Fundamental theoretical studies will elucidate the binding properties of functional organic compounds to the nanowire surface and determine the optimised geometry for efficient photonic devices. Finally, the Research Unit provides a broad scientific background for a clear judgement on the advantages and disadvantages of nanowire-based optoelectronics over conventional layer and bulk technologies.

• DFG Programme: Research Units

Projects

• Coordination project (Applicant Ronning, Carsten )
• Covalent organic modification and functionalization of eletrooptical nanowires (Applicant Waldvogel, Siegfried R. )
• Electrically pumped III/V nanowire light emitters (Applicant Prost, Werner )
• Group-III-nitride nanowires: electrical and optical properties in view of applications in solarcells (Applicant Christiansen, Silke )
• Light-matter ineraction in optically doped nanowire LEDs and nano lasers (Applicant Ronning, Carsten )
• Modeling the Dynamics and Interaction of Photonic Nanowire Lasers (Applicant Peschel, Ulf )
• Quantum Gases and Liquids in Semiconductor Rods (Applicant Schmidt-Grund, Rüdiger )
• Single GaN Nanorod Light Emitters and their Interaction with their Environment (Applicant Waag, Andreas )
• Theoretical investigations of surface modifications and doping of semiconductor nanowire structures (Applicant Frauenheim, Thomas )
• Ultrafast dynamics of light-matter-coupling processes in functionalized semiconductor nanowire structrures (Applicants Gutowski, Jürgen ;  Voß, Tobias )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Carsten Ronning
• Deputy: Professor Dr. Marius Grundmann