Molecular Assembly in Optical Cavities

Chemistry has traditionally focused on the synthesis of desired compounds, with organic synthesis being a key method for obtaining target molecules. In contrast, self-assembly -where molecules spontaneously organize into well-defined structures- has emerged as a powerful tool for fabricating intricate structures. Self-assembly was initially studied in biological systems but has been developed for synthetic methods, leading to the field of supramolecular chemistry, where non-covalent interactions/bonds guide molecular assembly. This has led to the development of complex molecular structures, such as metal-organic frameworks and hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks. Parallel to this field, cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), developed in the mid-20th century, has recently intersected with molecular assembly. Early research in cavity strong coupling focused on inorganic solids and simple molecules, but has since extended to molecular assemblies. The strong coupling synergized with molecular assembly will generate new polaritonic phenomena and applications.