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Control of Photoswitching Kinetics with Strong Light-Matter Coupling in a Cavity
Hongfei Zeng1, Juan B Pérez-Sánchez2, Christopher T Eckdahl3
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|August 29, 2023
Summary
Strong light-matter coupling alters molecular photoswitching. While merocyanine switching slows, fulgide switching accelerates, suggesting direct impacts on excited-state reaction dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Photochemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Photochemistry typically occurs via weak light-matter coupling.
- Strong coupling creates polaritons, hybrid light-matter states, altering molecular excited states.
- The impact of strong coupling on covalent photochemistry remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the effect of strong light-matter coupling on photoswitching kinetics.
- Examine how optical cavities influence the dynamics of molecular photoreactions.
Main Methods:
- Studied spiropyran/merocyanine and fulgide photoswitches within optical cavities.
- Monitored photoswitching kinetics spectroscopically.
- Analyzed the influence of strong coupling on reaction rates.
Main Results:
- Photoswitching of spiropyran/merocyanine was decelerated in the cavity.
- Fulgide photoswitching kinetics were accelerated under strong coupling conditions.
- Observed distinct kinetic modifications for different photoswitch types.
Conclusions:
- Strong light-matter coupling significantly impacts photoswitching kinetics.
- Modified merocyanine switching may relate to radiative decay or cavity photon numbers.
- Accelerated fulgide switching suggests direct alterations to excited-state reaction pathways.
