Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (ssCNTs) are promising candidates for next-generation photovoltaic devices due to their strong absorptivity and tunable photophysical properties. However, current device performance is limited to ~1% due to the extremely short, sub-10 nm length of exciton diffusion. We seek to overcome this limitation by leveraging the strong light-matter coupling in polaritons, where energy is thought to be delocalized across the length of the entire cavity, typically hundreds of nanometers. We fabricated a model Fabry-Perot microcavity bearing ssCNT layers that are spatially separated by a 150-nm thick polymer barrier, and characterized the energy diffusion therein using ultrafast 2D white-light spectroscopy. Our spectra revealed spectroscopic signatures indicative of a ~200-fs energy transport through the barrier over a &gt;300-nm distance. This long-distance energy transfer pathway is enabled exclusively inside the microcavity. These results highlight the potential of polaritonic microcavities as a tool for tailoring and optimizing material properties toward desired device performance.

Polariton-assisted ultrafast energy transport in semiconducting carbon nanotubes probed with 2D white-light spectroscopy

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.