Organic magnetoelectroluminescence for room temperature transduction between magnetic and optical information.

Ferran Macià,Andrew D Kent,Fujian Wang,Markus Wohlgenannt,Michael E Flatté,Nicholas J Harmon

doi:10.1038/ncomms4609

Ferran Macià, Andrew D Kent + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4609

Copy DOI

Journal: Nature Communications	Publication Date: Apr 16, 2014
Citations: 39	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: New York University, University of Iowa

Abstract

Magnetic and spin-based technologies for data storage and processing provide unique challenges for information transduction to light because of magnetic metals' optical loss, and the inefficiency and resistivity of semiconductor spin-based emitters at room temperature. Transduction between magnetic and optical information in typical organic semiconductors poses additional challenges, as the spin-orbit interaction is weak and spin injection from magnetic electrodes has been limited to low temperature and low polarization efficiency. Here we demonstrate room temperature information transduction between a magnet and an organic light-emitting diode that does not require electrical current, based on control via the magnet's remanent field of the exciton recombination process in the organic semiconductor. This demonstration is explained quantitatively within a theory of spin-dependent exciton recombination in the organic semiconductor, driven primarily by gradients in the remanent fringe fields of a few nanometre-thick magnetic film.

Highlights

Magnetic and spin-based technologies for data storage and processing provide unique challenges for information transduction to light because of magnetic metals’ optical loss, and the inefficiency and resistivity of semiconductor spin-based emitters at room temperature
This effect is known as organic magnetoresistance (OMAR), and for light emission it is denoted as organic magnetoelectroluminescence (OMEL)
We report that the fringe field resulting from a magnetic film a few nanometres thick can be used to control the electroluminescent output of an organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) at room temperature

Summary

Introduction

Magnetic and spin-based technologies for data storage and processing provide unique challenges for information transduction to light because of magnetic metals’ optical loss, and the inefficiency and resistivity of semiconductor spin-based emitters at room temperature. We demonstrate room temperature information transduction between a magnet and an organic light-emitting diode that does not require electrical current, based on control via the magnet’s remanent field of the exciton recombination process in the organic semiconductor. Use of spin injection provides a way to control the optical emission of an OLED, taking advantage of a spin-dependent exciton recombination process[4,5,6], magnetic metals have large impedance mismatches with organics This impedance mismatch can be overcome using coupling through a magnet’s fringe field at zero applied field (remanent field) as demonstrated in organic electronic devices[7,8,9].

Methods

Results

Conclusion