Basic Electronic Structures and Charge Carrier Generation in Organic Optoelectronic Materials

Abstract This chapter briefl y introduces some fundamental concepts and principles in a qualitative way (for students with diverse backgrounds at the college senior levels) on electronic structures, energy and charge carrier transfers of general electronic and optoelectronic materials, with emphasis on organic and polymeric conjugated materials. Specifi cally, the basic concepts and principles of quantum theory, electrons, orbitals, bands, ground and excited states, excitons, electron/energy transfers, and charge carrier generation mechanisms are briefl y discussed. Both exciton and band models are presented to illustrate electronic transitions and carrier generations, including “chemical doping” and “photo doping” processes.