Research

The electron spin properties of ground and excited state levels in molecules dictate the spin-optical behaviour for any optoelectronic, photonic and quantum technologies.

We are based at the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) at Swansea University where our team investigates design, fabrication, characterisation and applications of molecular materials. Optical spectroscopy (fs-ps) is used to characterise the exciton dynamics by transient absorption and photoluminescence. The underlying electron spin mechanisms are revealed by magnetic field effects, magneto-optics and electron spin resonance experiments. By understanding structure-property relationships in spin-optical materials we can explore molecules to target applications.

We developed luminescent organic radicals with emission from unpaired electron spin states that enable the most efficient organic light-emitting diodes in the infrared range (Nature 2018, Nature 2020, Nature Communications 2022, Nature Photonics 2024). The design of spin-optical behaviour from multi-electron coupled ('high-spin') states in molecules enables potential applications as molecular qubits (Nature 2023) and magnetic field sensors (J Phys Chem Lett 2024).

By expanding spin chemistry concepts in novel molecular materials, we can push the boundaries of spin, optical and magnetic properties that can improve current technologies and enable new opportunities.