Eur. Phys. J. B (2014) 87: 13
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2013-40620-3

Regular Article

Surface plasmons mediated energy transfer from a semiconductor quantum well to an organic overlayer

Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri, 56126 Pisa, Italy

^a e-mail: sebastien.kawka@sns.it

Received: 25 June 2013
Received in final form: 4 November 2013
Published online: 15 January 2014

Abstract

We consider the resonant energy transfer from a two-dimensional Wannier exciton (donor) to a Frenkel exciton of a molecular crystal overlayer (acceptor) when the active media are separated by a metallic layer, possibly an electrode. We characterize the effect of the surface plasmon on this process. Using realistic values of material parameters, we show that it is possible to increase the transfer rate within typically a factor of 5, with a 1.25 efficiency enhancement (up to a factor of 44 with ten times larger efficiency according to geometrical configuration). Foreseeing applications to light emitting diode, we then take into account the quenching of the organic luminescence due to the proximity to the metal. The latter is significant and affect negatively the total internal efficiency that we discuss for different geometries.