Approach toward Optochemistry from Organic Materials Science View

Conspectus

This Account outlines the emerging concept of optochemistry, a novel research field integrating optics and chemistry. While photochemistry treats light as energy particles (photons), optochemistry defines chemistry where light is treated as propagating or standing waves. It encompasses optics that leverage the unique characteristics of organic and polymer materials such as chirality, spin, and semiconducting properties, as well as chemistry that exploits optical phenomena. In this sense, optochemistry can be positioned as the next evolutionary step beyond photochemistry, utilizing the wave and phase properties of light.

In this Account, we first provide an introductory overview of the historical backgrounds of optics, photonics, and photochemistry, followed by detailed discussions on specific topics within optochemistry. In section 2, we begin by describing the fabrication of microcavities from π-conjugated organic molecules and polymers and their laser oscillations, extending to applications such as optical memory, optical logic, long-distance energy transfer, and high-sensitivity optical sensing, as well as organic ionic liquid droplet and microcrystal lasers.

In section 3, we discuss on organic microring resonators that works as structured light generators such as Bessel-Gaussian beam and optical vortices. The control of optical vortex using organic ring resonators are discussed, alongside their integration into photonic (optical) integrated circuits. Next, we discuss light-matter strong coupling within optical cavities in section 4. In the strong coupling regime, the molecular excited states and cavity modes couple intensely, resulting in the formation of polariton states─hybridized states of light and matter. We delve into organic polaritonics, reviewing polariton states and the hidden polaritonic Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer states in organic and metal-halide perovskite crystals, as well as polariton lasers and the Rashba-Dresselhaus effect arising from spin–orbit interaction of light.

In section 5, discussion shifts to unique nonlinear optical phenomena reflecting chirality in organic–inorganic perovskite thin films and chiral light-matter strong coupling. Finally, we offer a perspective on the future transition and expansion from photochemistry to optochemistry. We envision that this conceptual framework will catalyze the birth of new chemistry that exploits the wave, phase, and beam nature of light, as well as innovative optics driven by novel chemical phenomena.