Surface functionalization of bio-inspired nanostructures in organic photovoltaics and electronics based on feathers of avian species for inherent UV and IR reflection

Abstract

The discovery of organic polymers has led to advent of organic chemistry in electronics. This has led to a new age – organic electronics with devices such as organic solar cells, organic light emitting diodes, organic liquid crystal displays competing with their conventional inorganic counterparts. However, the efficiency and lifetime of organic electronic devices is low (or) decreases with time on continual exposure to ultraviolet and infrared region in the electromagnetic spectrum, due to the degradation of core organic polymers. Technologies such as layering reflective substrates in tandem with organic polymers, introducing resonant cavities, altering orientation, etc. have been successful in mitigating to a certain extent. However, recent studies indicate that each of these methodologies has its own demerits thereby affecting certain performance metrics. This calls for the introduction of UV and IR reflectivity properties into the system from some other means which would not compensate for the metrics of the devices. Various systems in nature such as feathers of tanager, arctic redpoll, snowy owl are capable of reflecting UV and IR rays. This property in nature owes to the patterning of the nanostructural units of the respective entities in a long-range order. Such structures could be replicated by lithography or self-assembly and have been proven to be effective in UV and IR reflectivity as their natural analogues. The present manufacturing innovation hypothesizes and aims to ideate the templating of bio-inspired reflective structures onto the organic substrates towards surface functionalization of the desired degree of intrinsic reflectivity.