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Nelson JC, Weichman ML. More than just smoke and mirrors: Gas-phase polaritons for optical control of chemistry. J Chem Phys 2024; 161:074304. [PMID: 39145566 DOI: 10.1063/5.0220077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Gas-phase molecules are a promising platform to elucidate the mechanisms of action and scope of polaritons for optical control of chemistry. Polaritons arise from the strong coupling of a dipole-allowed molecular transition with the photonic mode of an optical cavity. There is mounting evidence of modified reactivity under polaritonic conditions; however, the complex condensed-phase environment of most experimental demonstrations impedes mechanistic understanding of this phenomenon. While the gas phase was the playground of early efforts in atomic cavity quantum electrodynamics, we have only recently demonstrated the formation of molecular polaritons under these conditions. Studying the reactivity of isolated gas-phase molecules under strong coupling would eliminate solvent interactions and enable quantum state resolution of reaction progress. In this Perspective, we contextualize recent gas-phase efforts in the field of polariton chemistry and offer a practical guide for experimental design moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane C Nelson
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Marissa L Weichman
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
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2
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Hirschmann O, Bhakta HH, Kort-Kamp WJM, Jones AC, Xiong W. Spatially Resolved Near Field Spectroscopy of Vibrational Polaritons at the Small N Limit. ACS PHOTONICS 2024; 11:2650-2658. [PMID: 39036063 PMCID: PMC11258779 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.4c00345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Vibrational polaritons, which have been primarily studied in Fabry-Pérot cavities with a large number of molecules (N ∼ 106-1010) coupled to the resonator mode, exhibit various experimentally observed effects on chemical reactions. However, the exact mechanism is elusively understood from the theoretical side, as the large number of molecules involved in an experimental strong coupling condition cannot be represented completely in simulations. This discrepancy between theory and experiment arises from computational descriptions of polariton systems typically being limited to only a few molecules, thus failing to represent the experimental conditions adequately. To address this mismatch, we used surface phonon polariton (SPhP) resonators as an alternative platform for vibrational strong coupling. SPhPs exhibit strong electromagnetic confinement on the surface and thus allow for coupling to a small number of molecules. As a result, this platform can enhance nonlinearity and slow down relaxation to the dark modes. In this study, we fabricated a pillar-shaped quartz resonator and then coated it with a thin layer of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc). By employing scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM), we spatially investigated the dependency of vibrational strong coupling on the spatially varying electromagnetic field strength and demonstrated strong coupling with 38,000 molecules only-reaching to the small N limit. Through s-SNOM analysis, we found that strong coupling was observed primarily on the edge of the quartz pillar and the apex of the s-SNOM tip, where the maximum field enhancement occurs. In contrast, a weak resonance signal and lack of coupling were observed closer to the center of the pillar. This work demonstrates the importance of spatially resolved polariton systems in nanophotonic platforms and lays a foundation to explore polariton chemistry and chemical dynamics at the small N limit-one step closer to reconcile with high-level quantum calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Hirschmann
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Harsh H. Bhakta
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Wilton J. M. Kort-Kamp
- Theoretical
Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Andrew C. Jones
- Center
for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Materials
Physics and Applications Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Wei Xiong
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Materials
Science and Engineering Program, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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3
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Wang W, de la Fuente Diez J, Delsuc N, Peng J, Spezia R, Vuilleumier R, Chen Y. Piezoelectric and microfluidic tuning of an infrared cavity for vibrational polariton studies. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:2497-2505. [PMID: 38606494 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01101a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
We developed a microfluidic system for vibrational polariton studies, which consists of two microfluidic chips: one for solution mixing and another for tuning an infrared cavity made of a pair of gold mirrors and a PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) spacer. We show that the cavity of the system can be accurately tuned with either piezoelectric actuators or microflow-induced pressure to result in resonant coupling between a cavity mode and a variational mode of the solution molecules. Acrylonitrile solutions were chosen to prove the concept of vabriational strong coupling (VSC) of a CN stretching mode with light inside the cavity. We also show that the Rabi splitting energy is linearly proportional to the square root of molecular concentration, thereby proving the relevance and reliability of the system for VSC studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Jaime de la Fuente Diez
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Nicolas Delsuc
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Juan Peng
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Riccardo Spezia
- Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, Sorbonne Université, UMR 7616 CNRS, 4, place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Rodolphe Vuilleumier
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Yong Chen
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France.
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Stemo G, Nishiuchi J, Bhakta H, Mao H, Wiesehan G, Xiong W, Katsuki H. Ultrafast Spectroscopy under Vibrational Strong Coupling in Diphenylphosphoryl Azide. J Phys Chem A 2024; 128:1817-1824. [PMID: 38437187 PMCID: PMC10945483 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.3c07847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Strong coupling of cavity photons and molecular vibrations creates vibrational polaritons that have been shown to modify chemical reactivity and alter material properties. While ultrafast spectroscopy of vibrational polaritons has been performed intensively in metal complexes, ultrafast dynamics in vibrationally strongly coupled organic molecules remain unexplored. Here, we report ultrafast pump-probe measurement and two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy in diphenylphosphoryl azide under vibrational strong coupling. Early time oscillatory structures indicate coherent energy exchange between the two polariton modes, which decays in ∼2 ps. We observe a large transient absorptive feature around the lower polariton, which can be explained by the overlapped excited-state absorption and derivative-shaped structures around the lower and upper polaritons. The latter feature is explained by the Rabi splitting contraction, which is ascribed to a reduced population in the ground state. These results reassure the previously reported spectroscopic theory to describe nonlinear spectroscopy of vibrational polaritons. We have also noticed the influence of the complicated layer structure of the cavity mirrors. The penetration of the electric field distribution into the layered structure of the dielectric-mirror cavities can significantly affect the Rabi splitting and the decay time constant of polaritonic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrek Stemo
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Joel Nishiuchi
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
| | - Harsh Bhakta
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Haochuan Mao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Garret Wiesehan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Wei Xiong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Hiroyuki Katsuki
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma 630-0192, Japan
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Xiang B, Xiong W. Molecular Polaritons for Chemistry, Photonics and Quantum Technologies. Chem Rev 2024; 124:2512-2552. [PMID: 38416701 PMCID: PMC10941193 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Molecular polaritons are quasiparticles resulting from the hybridization between molecular and photonic modes. These composite entities, bearing characteristics inherited from both constituents, exhibit modified energy levels and wave functions, thereby capturing the attention of chemists in the past decade. The potential to modify chemical reactions has spurred many investigations, alongside efforts to enhance and manipulate optical responses for photonic and quantum applications. This Review centers on the experimental advances in this burgeoning field. Commencing with an introduction of the fundamentals, including theoretical foundations and various cavity architectures, we discuss outcomes of polariton-modified chemical reactions. Furthermore, we navigate through the ongoing debates and uncertainties surrounding the underpinning mechanism of this innovative method of controlling chemistry. Emphasis is placed on gaining a comprehensive understanding of the energy dynamics of molecular polaritons, in particular, vibrational molecular polaritons─a pivotal facet in steering chemical reactions. Additionally, we discuss the unique capability of coherent two-dimensional spectroscopy to dissect polariton and dark mode dynamics, offering insights into the critical components within the cavity that alter chemical reactions. We further expand to the potential utility of molecular polaritons in quantum applications as well as precise manipulation of molecular and photonic polarizations, notably in the context of chiral phenomena. This discussion aspires to ignite deeper curiosity and engagement in revealing the physics underpinning polariton-modified molecular properties, and a broad fascination with harnessing photonic environments to control chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Xiang
- Department
of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries
of the Future, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310030, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, San Diego, California 92126, United States
- Materials
Science and Engineering Program, University
of California, San Diego, California 92126, United States
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San
Diego, California 92126, United States
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Attal L, Calvo F, Falvo C, Parneix P. Coherent state switching using vibrational polaritons in an asymmetric double-well potential. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:7534-7544. [PMID: 38357967 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp05568j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The quantum dynamics of vibrational polaritonic states arising from the interaction of a bistable molecule with the quantized mode of a Fabry-Perot microcavity is investigated using a generic asymmetric double-well potential as a simplified one-dimensional model of a reactive molecule. After discussing the role of the light-matter coupling strength in the emergence of avoided crossings between polaritonic states, we investigate the possibility of using these crossings to trigger a dynamical switching of these states from one potential well to the other. Two schemes are proposed to achieve this coherent state switching, either by preparing the molecule in an appropriate vibrational excited state before inserting it into the cavity, or by applying a short laser pulse inside the cavity to obtain a coherent superposition of polaritonic states. The respective influences of dipole moment amplitude and potential asymmetry on the coherent switching process are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïse Attal
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, 91405 Orsay, France.
| | - Florent Calvo
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Cyril Falvo
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, 91405 Orsay, France.
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Pascal Parneix
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, 91405 Orsay, France.
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Fidler AP, Chen L, McKillop AM, Weichman ML. Ultrafast dynamics of CN radical reactions with chloroform solvent under vibrational strong coupling. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:164302. [PMID: 37870135 DOI: 10.1063/5.0167410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Polariton chemistry may provide a new means to control molecular reactivity, permitting remote, reversible modification of reaction energetics, kinetics, and product yields. A considerable body of experimental and theoretical work has already demonstrated that strong coupling between a molecular vibrational mode and the confined electromagnetic field of an optical cavity can alter chemical reactivity without external illumination. However, the mechanisms underlying cavity-altered chemistry remain unclear in large part because the experimental systems examined previously are too complex for detailed analysis of their reaction dynamics. Here, we experimentally investigate photolysis-induced reactions of cyanide radicals with strongly-coupled chloroform (CHCl3) solvent molecules and examine the intracavity rates of photofragment recombination, solvent complexation, and hydrogen abstraction. We use a microfluidic optical cavity fitted with dichroic mirrors to facilitate vibrational strong coupling (VSC) of the C-H stretching mode of CHCl3 while simultaneously permitting optical access at visible wavelengths. Ultrafast transient absorption experiments performed with cavities tuned on- and off-resonance reveal that VSC of the CHCl3 C-H stretching transition does not significantly modify any measured rate constants, including those associated with the hydrogen abstraction reaction. This work represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first experimental study of an elementary bimolecular reaction under VSC. We discuss how the conspicuous absence of cavity-altered effects in this system may provide insights into the mechanisms of modified ground state reactivity under VSC and help bridge the divide between experimental results and theoretical predictions in vibrational polariton chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley P Fidler
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Liying Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | | | - Marissa L Weichman
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
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Gu Y, Gu B, Sun S, Yong H, Chernyak VY, Mukamel S. Manipulating Attosecond Charge Migration in Molecules by Optical Cavities. J Am Chem Soc 2023. [PMID: 37390450 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c03821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The ultrafast electronic charge dynamics in molecules upon photoionization while the nuclear motions are frozen is known as charge migration. In a theoretical study of the quantum dynamics of photoionized 5-bromo-1-pentene, we show that the charge migration process can be induced and enhanced by placing the molecule in an optical cavity, and can be monitored by time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. The collective nature of the polaritonic charge migration process is investigated. We find that, unlike spectroscopy, molecular charge dynamics in a cavity is local and does not show many-molecule collective effects. The same conclusion applies to cavity polaritonic chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bing Gu
- Department of Chemistry, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang, China
| | | | | | - Vladimir Y Chernyak
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
- Department of Mathematics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
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