Characterization of metal-functionalized flax orbitide as a new candidate for light-emitting semiconductor

Abstract

Organic materials display promise in numerous electronic applications, complimentary to traditional semi-conducting materials. Cyclolinopeptides show promise in light-emitting applications as an organic semiconductor. Photoluminescence measurements indicate charge transfer between the peptide and the metal, resulting in an increase in intensity of the emission from around the metal in the Cyclolinopeptide complex. Complementary X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) shows a change in occupation of energy states in the peptide when complexed with the metal, indicating charge transfer, but peak positions show the peptide is not chemically changed by the metal. Combining X-ray emission and XANES provides element specific partial density of states, to estimate the element specific energy gap which is the proposed emission range for the peptide material. Organic light emitting diode devices have been fabricated, although no measurable emission has been seen as of yet. The devices have diode like current-voltage characteristics showing the peptide is semi-conducting with a threshold voltage of approximately 2.5 V.