Superluminescence from an optically pumped molecular tunneling junction by injection of plasmon induced hot electrons.

ABSTRACT: Here, we demonstrate a bias-driven superluminescent point light-source based on an optically pumped molecular junction (gold substrate/self-assembled molecular monolayer/gold tip) of a scanning tunneling microscope, operating at ambient conditions and providing almost three orders of magnitude higher electron-to-photon conversion efficiency than electroluminescence induced by inelastic tunneling without optical pumping. A positive, steadily increasing bias voltage induces a step-like rise of the Stokes shifted optical signal emitted from the junction. This emission is strongly attenuated by reversing the applied bias voltage. At high bias voltage, the emission intensity depends non-linearly on the optical pump power. The enhanced emission can be modelled by rate equations taking into accou

SUBMITTER: Braun K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4463973 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature