Speaker
Description
Through the strong coupling of molecular vibrational modes with photonic modes, intriguing molecular vibrational polariton states and dark reservoir modes emerge. These polaritons, exhibiting a dual nature of matter and light, have the potential to modify chemical reactions under thermally activated conditions, paving the way for the emerging field of polariton chemistry. Distinguishing polaritons from dark modes has been challenging, but ultrafast two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy proved instrumental in overcoming this hurdle. Our research demonstrated that polaritons facilitate intra- and intermolecular vibrational energy transfer, providing a means to control vibrational energy flow in liquid-phase molecular systems. Moreover, in studying a single-step isomerization event, we confirmed polaritons' role in modifying chemical dynamics under strong coupling conditions, while dark modes behaved like uncoupled molecules, leaving dynamics unchanged. This finding solidified the central concept of polariton chemistry and laid the groundwork for designing future polariton cavities.
