Active control of polariton dynamics in biomimetic plexcitonic antenna complexes

A scientific ’grand challenge’ over the past two decades has been to achieve efficient long-range transport of excitons (electron-hole pairs formed by the absorption of photons) in molecular materials. We are developing a new approach to the design of molecular photonic materials that combines biologically-inspired design principles with the exciting new physics of strong light-matter coupling. This approach requires anchoring of, and 3D arrangement of dye molecules at interfaces. As such, surface-grafted polymers (a.k.a. brushes) are grown from interfaces and subsequently derivatized with reactive dyes. In a previous proposal we functionalised a polymer brush with a deuterated dye molecule (deuterated Nile Blue, d-NB) and examined the role of reaction conditions and polymer brush structure on the distribution of these dyes throughout the brush. Through contrast matching, we were able to resolve the distribution of the dye molecules. In this proposal we expand on our previous work and introduce functional groups into the polymer structure to impart stimulus responsive behaviour. It is our aim to examine how the distribution of dye molecules, and the structure of the film, change actively controlled through stimulus response