Excited state energy channeling in planar organic heterojunctions

A fundamental physical property of matter is its ability to interact with light. For example, plant leaves are green because they absorb visible light.

However, it is less known that this light-matter interaction can be enhanced to the point where it is so strong that the photon and molecule cannot be regarded as separate entities, but as a combined system with unique properties.

Nature uses strong chromophore-chromophore interactions to rapidly channel absorbed sunlight to the photosynthetic reaction centre.

However, up to now, organic solar cells do not take advantage of such quantum processes to enhance light to electricity conversion.

My aim is to channel excitation energy to charge transfer states in an organic heterojunction using the delocalized nature of hybrid light-matter states.

This interaction enables transport of excitation energy over distances much longer than being previously considered feasible.

Using time-resolved optical spectroscopy, I will systematically explore the interaction between delocalized hybrid states and localized charge transfer states, allowing design criteria to be formulated.

I will also make simple solar cells to evaluate how the hybrid states affect the overall photocurrent efficiency on a systems level.

The outcome of this research program is the description and mechanistic revelation of a novel quantum physical phenomenon that can enable production of organic solar cells from simple layered structures with unprecedented efficiencies.