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Natural optical activity as the origin of the large chiroptical properties in π-conjugated polymer thin films

Author

Listed:
  • Jessica Wade

    (South Kensington Campus
    South Kensington Campus)

  • James N. Hilfiker

    (J.A. Woollam Co. Inc.)

  • Jochen R. Brandt

    (South Kensington Campus
    White City Campus)

  • Letizia Liirò-Peluso

    (University of Nottingham
    University of Nottingham, University Park)

  • Li Wan

    (South Kensington Campus
    South Kensington Campus)

  • Xingyuan Shi

    (South Kensington Campus
    White City Campus)

  • Francesco Salerno

    (South Kensington Campus
    White City Campus)

  • Seán T. J. Ryan

    (White City Campus)

  • Stefan Schöche

    (J.A. Woollam Co. Inc.)

  • Oriol Arteaga

    (Universitat de Barcelona, IN2UB)

  • Tamás Jávorfi

    (Harwell Science and Innovation Campus)

  • Giuliano Siligardi

    (Harwell Science and Innovation Campus)

  • Cheng Wang

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • David B. Amabilino

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Peter H. Beton

    (University of Nottingham, University Park)

  • Alasdair J. Campbell

    (South Kensington Campus
    South Kensington Campus)

  • Matthew J. Fuchter

    (South Kensington Campus
    White City Campus)

Abstract

Polymer thin films that emit and absorb circularly polarised light have been demonstrated with the promise of achieving important technological advances; from efficient, high-performance displays, to 3D imaging and all-organic spintronic devices. However, the origin of the large chiroptical effects in such films has, until now, remained elusive. We investigate the emergence of such phenomena in achiral polymers blended with a chiral small-molecule additive (1-aza[6]helicene) and intrinsically chiral-sidechain polymers using a combination of spectroscopic methods and structural probes. We show that – under conditions relevant for device fabrication – the large chiroptical effects are caused by magneto-electric coupling (natural optical activity), not structural chirality as previously assumed, and may occur because of local order in a cylinder blue phase-type organisation. This disruptive mechanistic insight into chiral polymer thin films will offer new approaches towards chiroptical materials development after almost three decades of research in this area.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica Wade & James N. Hilfiker & Jochen R. Brandt & Letizia Liirò-Peluso & Li Wan & Xingyuan Shi & Francesco Salerno & Seán T. J. Ryan & Stefan Schöche & Oriol Arteaga & Tamás Jávorfi & Giuliano Sil, 2020. "Natural optical activity as the origin of the large chiroptical properties in π-conjugated polymer thin films," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-19951-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19951-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Qiuhong Cheng & Aiyou Hao & Pengyao Xing, 2021. "A chemosensor-based chiral coassembly with switchable circularly polarized luminescence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.

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