# Robust helix photo-transforming in soft matter

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a chiral photoswitch that enables precise light-controlled helical transformations in soft materials, useful for photonics and information processing.

## Contribution

A novel chiral photoswitch design enables robust helix photo-transformation with ultra-large helical twisting power and broad spectral control.

## Key findings

- A multi-branched chiral photoswitch enables dynamic helical pitch control and chirality inversion in soft matter.
- The system achieves a dissymmetric factor of 1.97 in circularly polarized luminescence, near the theoretical limit.
- The design supports photo-tailorable infrared beams and high-dimensional optical coding.

## Abstract

Helical organization in soft materials is omnipresent in systems ranging from DNA and peptides to liquid crystal displays. Dynamic transformation and reconfiguration of helicity triggered non-invasively by light are highly desirable, yet challenging to control in soft-condensed matter. Herein, we report the photo-transformation of helicity in soft matter with robust manipulation of the helical pitch and inversion of chirality. The key molecular design is based on the introduction of a multi-branched dendron-like chiral photoswitch, along with balancing long-range order and short-range disorder states, featuring ultra-large helical twisting power (HTP) and initiating an extremely broad dynamic spectral range (400–3000 nm). The resonance coupling between helixes and inherent luminescence of the chiral photoswitch enables stimulated circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), with a dissymmetric factor of 1.97 approaching the theoretical limit. The precise dynamic control allows for photo-tailorable infrared beams and high dimensional coding, offering a robust approach to dynamic soft matter, chiro-optics and information processing.

A chiral photoswitch with ultra-large helical twisting power promotes robust helix transforming in soft matter enabling information photonics.