This book presents a collection of 13 original research articles that focus on the science of light-matter interaction. This area of science has been led to some the greatest accomplishments of the past 100 years, with the discovery of materials that perform useful operations by collecting light or generating light from an outside stimulus. These materials are at the center of a multitude of technologies that have permeated our daily life; every day we rely on quantum well lasers for telecommunication, organic light emitting diodes for our displays, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors for our camera detectors, and of course a plethora of new photovoltaic cells that harvest sunlight to satisfy our energy needs. In this book, top-rated researchers present their latest findings in the field of nano-particles, plasmonics, semi-conductors, magneto-optics, and holography.

The book focuses on innovative photonic and photoactive materials and such topics as photonic structures, silicon photonics, nanomaterials, plasmonics, graphene quantum dots, optically active defects, fluorescent materials and optical sensors. The generation of light, absorption, emission, transmission, optical sensing and probing, signal processing and data transmission are some of the properties related to this growing field. Keywords: Photonic Structures, Silicon Photonics, Plasmonics, Silver Nanoparticles, Graphene Quantum Dots, Optically Active Defects, Fluorescent Materials, Optical Sensors, Fullerene, Proton Beam Detectors, Lithium Fluoride Films, Signal Processing, Data Transmission.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue Novel Photoactive Materials that was published in Materials

The primary objective of this NATO Advanced Study Institute (ASI) was to present an up-to-date overview of various current areas of interest in the field of photovoltaic and related photoactive materials. This is a wide-ranging subject area, of significant commercial and environmental interest, and involves major contributions from the disciplines of physics, chemistry, materials, electrical and instrumentation engineering, commercial realisation etc. Therefore, we sought to adopt an inter disciplinary approach, bringing together recognised experts in the various fields while retaining a level of treatment accessible to those active in specific individual areas of research and development. The lecture programme commenced with overviews of the present relevance and historical development of the subject area, plus an introduction to various underlying physical principles of importance to the materials and devices to be addressed in later lectures. Building upon this, the ASI then progressed to more detailed aspects of the subject area. We were also fortunately able to obtain a contribution from Thierry Langlois d'Estaintot of the European Commission Directorate, describing present and future EC support for activities in this field. In addition, poster sessions were held throughout the meeting, to allow participants to present and discuss their current activities. These were supported by what proved to be very effective feedback sessions (special thanks to Martin Stutzmann), prior to which groups of participants enthusiastically met (often in the bar) to identify and agree topics of common interest.

This book covers the design, synthesis, properties, and applications of functional photoactive soft materials, including aspects of polymers, block copolymers, elastomers, biomaterials, liquid crystals, chemical and physical gels, colloids, and host-guest systems. It combines, in a unified manner, authoritative accounts describing various structural and functional aspects of photoactive soft materials. Photoactive Functional Soft Materials: Preparation, Properties, and Applications: * Brings together the state-of-the-art knowledge on photoactive functional soft materials in a unified manner * Covers a vibrant research field with tremendous application potential in areas such as optoelectronics, photonics, and energy generation * Appeals to a large interdisciplinary audience because it is highly useful for researchers and engineers working on photonics, optoelectronics, imaging and sensing, nanotechnology, and energy materials Photoactive Functional Soft Materials: Preparation, Properties and Applications focuses on the design and fabrication of photoactive functional soft materials for materials science, nanophotonics, nanotechnology, and biomedical applications.

Surface photovoltage (SPV) techniques provide information about photoactive materials with respect to charge separation in space. This book aims to share experience in measuring and analyzing SPV signals and addresses researchers and developers interested in learning more about and in applying SPV methods. For this purpose, basics about processes in photoactive materials and principles of SPV measurements are combined with examples from research and development over the last two decades.SPV measurements with Kelvin probes, fixed capacitors, electron beams and photoelectrons are explained. Details are given for continuous, modulated and transient SPV spectroscopy. Simulation principles of SPV signals by random walks are introduced and applied for small systems. Application examples are selected for the characterization of silicon surfaces, gallium arsenide layers, electronic states in colloidal quantum dots, transport phenomena in metal oxides and local charge separation across photocatalytic active crystallites.

Nanoparticles are usually designed for specific applications and selection of the most convenient capping can be a complex task, but is crucial for successful design. In this volume, the authors discuss the selection of functional cappings to coat nanoparticles in a range of different applications. The opening chapter provides an understanding of basic aspects of surface chemistry at the nanoscale. Each following chapter covers a particular kind of capping, beginning with a basic introduction and describing characteristics such as structure, functionality, solubility, (photo)physics, and toxicity. Special emphasis is placed on how important these specific features are in the preparation of smart nanomaterials. In-depth explanations and examples are then presented, highlighting the latest results and cutting-edge research carried out with the selected capping according to the kind of nanoparticle employed (such as rare-earth doped, semiconducting, and metallic). An additional chapter focusses on computational techniques for modelling nanosurfaces. Photoactive Inorganic Nanoparticles: Surface Composition and its Role in Nanosystem Functionality will be a valuable working resource for graduate students, researchers, and industry R&D professionals working in the field of applied nanomaterials. Aids selection of the best functional cappings for particular applications Covers a broad range of application areas, including medical, biological and materials science Provides material on computational techniques for modeling nanosurfaces