Active Control of Polariton-Enabled Long-Range Energy Transfer

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates optical control over long-range energy transfer between molecules via hybrid polaritons, using a reversible photochromic component to switch energy transfer on and off, with potential applications in light-harvesting and photovoltaic devices.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method for controlling energy transfer through hybrid polaritons using a reversible photochromic donor, enabling dynamic modulation of energy flow.

Findings

Achieved a 6-fold enhancement in emission intensity through polariton hybridization.

Demonstrated reversible switching of energy transfer with light irradiation.

Paved the way for light-controlled energy transport systems in optoelectronic devices.

Abstract

Optical control is achieved on the excited state energy transfer between spatially separated donor and acceptor molecules, both coupled to the same optical mode of a cavity. The energy transfer occurs through the formed hybrid polaritons and can be switched on and off by means of ultraviolet and visible light. The control mechanism relies on a photochromic component used as donor, whose absorption and emission properties can be varied reversibly through light irradiation, whereas in-cavity hybridization with acceptors through polariton states enables a 6-fold enhancement of acceptor/donor contribution to the emission intensity with respect to a reference multilayer. These results pave the way for synthesizing effective gating systems for the transport of energy by light, relevant for light-harvesting and light-emitting devices, and for photovoltaic cells.