Department of Chemistry Seminar - Applying chiral conjugated materials to circularly polarized optoelectronic devices: Challenges and opportunities

Speaker: Professor Matthew J. Fuchter FRSC FEurASc

Institution: Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
                 Sydney Bailey Fellow in Chemistry, St. Peter’s College
                 University of Oxford

Hosted By: Professor Haipeng LU

Abstract

We have an ongoing interest in the development of conjugated chiral molecules which can emit and detect circularly polarized (CP) light within thin film materials and in optoelectronic devices. CP light is central to many applications, including data storage, quantum computation, biosensing, environmental monitoring and display technologies. Such technologies require the generation of device compatible materials and a clear understanding of the chiroptical mechanisms at play. With a focus on chiral organic polymeric thin film materials, this talk will give an overview of our strategies to maximize the selectivity of such chiroptical responses in devices through molecular design, materials processing and device architecture. Key and surprising results will be showcased and discussed, including the role of polymer supramolecular assembly in large chiroptical responses, and the observation and exploitation of anomalous circularly polarized electroluminescence. Recent unpublished results will also be discussed that allow increased selectivity in the detection of CP light in devices.