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

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 Siligardi, Cheng Wang, David B. Amabilino, Peter H. Beton, Alasdair J. Campbell () and Matthew J. Fuchter ()
Additional contact information
Jessica Wade: South Kensington Campus
James N. Hilfiker: J.A. Woollam Co. Inc.
Jochen R. Brandt: South Kensington Campus
Letizia Liirò-Peluso: University of Nottingham
Li Wan: South Kensington Campus
Xingyuan Shi: South Kensington Campus
Francesco Salerno: South Kensington 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
Matthew J. Fuchter: South Kensington Campus

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19951-y

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