Electron Transfer in Plexcitonic Systems

The aim of our programme is to develop a new, modular approach for the creation of photonic materials, inspired by biological photosynthetic membranes. We call this approach 'molecular photonic breadboards': minimal units - synthetic antenna complexes - are designed from scratch to organise molecular components precisely in space. These building blocks are assembled to form nanostructured films. We will exploit the exciting new physics of strong light-matter coupling, in which excitons (molecular excited states) are hybridised with confined optical modes (localised surface plasmon resonances) to create new states (plexcitons) that combine the properties of light and matter.1,2 Our goal is to control energy transfer pathways from the nm to the cm scale, and is to lay the foundations for a revolution in the design of molecular photonic materials.
The ability to control photo-processes by external perturbation could bring a new way to manipulate photonic materials. Coupling between electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom (vibronic coupling) on the ultrafast timescale is the key factor in the photophysics of molecular excited states. However, manipulation of the coupled states is difficult! In this project, you will use strong light-matter coupling to plasmon modes to affect and potentially control vibronic coupling, and hence the outcome of light-driven reactions. This work builds on our previous development of the IR-control approach to manipulate excited state reactions.[3] A particular focus of your project will be on electron and energy transfer pathways in molecules and materials, that might be important in applications including photocatalysis and solar energy capture.