Ultralong-Range Polariton-Assisted Energy Transfer in Organic Microcavities

Non-radiative energy transfer between spatially-separated molecules in a microcavity can occur when an excitonic state on both molecules are strongly-coupled to the same optical mode, forming so-called hybrid polaritons. Such energy transfer has previously been explored when thin-films of different molecules are relatively closely spaced (approximate to 100 nm). In this manuscript, we explore strong-coupled microcavities in which thin-films of two J-aggregated molecular dyes were separated by a spacer layer having a thickness of up to 2 mu m. Here, strong light-matter coupling and hybridisation between the excitonic transition is identified using white-light reflectivity and photoluminescence emission. We use steady-state spectroscopy to demonstrate polariton-mediated energy transfer between such coupled states over mesoscopic distances, with this process being enhanced compared to non-cavity control structures.

Automated summary

This study investigates polariton-mediated energy transfer between coupled states in strong-coupled microcavities over mesoscopic distances. By separating thin-films of two J-aggregated molecular dyes with a spacer layer up to 2 micrometers thick, strong light-matter coupling and hybridisation between excitonic transitions were identified. The process of energy transfer through polaritons was found to be enhanced compared to non-cavity control structures.