Chiral Memory‐Driven Helical Supramolecular Photodetector for Deciphering Circularly Polarized Light

K Ke Gao (State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, and NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products) Y Ye In Cho (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering Institute of Chemical Processes Seoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea) W Wenkai Zhao (Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials) S Shijie Wang (Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco-Security of Southwest China, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University) S Sang Hyuk Lee J Jaeyong Ahn (Department of Chemical Engineering) W Wenda Zhao Z Zhaoyu Wang (Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials) Z Zhiwei Wang (International Joint Research Laboratory of Nano-Micro Architecture Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry and College of Chemistry) Z Zhenping Li X Xingshuo Chu (State Key Laboratory of Porous Metal Materials School of Materials Science and Engineering Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an P. R. China) P Pei Zhou (School of Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Energy Storage Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Sustainable Polymer Materials) W Wei Ma G Guankui Long (Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials) J Joon Hak Oh (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering Institute of Chemical Processes Seoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea) X Xiaobo Shang (State Key Laboratory for Porous Metal Materials Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter School of Materials Science and Engineering Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an 710049 P.R. China)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Chiral π‐conjugated organic small molecules, due to their intrinsic chirality, well‐defined molecular structures and ease of modification, are promising for circularly polarized light (CPL) detection. However, their practical application is hindered by low absorption dissymmetry factor ( g abs ), arising from imbalanced electric and magnetic transition dipole moments ( µ and m ). Here, a template‐free method using chiral memory effect was reported to fabricate helical supramolecules with high g abs . Two chiral dinaphthocoronene tetraimides enantiomer pairs were synthesized: ( R )‐PDI‐( R )‐NI‐Ph/( S )‐PDI‐( S )‐NI‐Ph and ( S )‐PDI‐( R )‐NI‐Ph/( R )‐PDI‐( S )‐NI‐Ph. After annealing films at 350°C to remove chiral pendants, ( R )‐PDI‐( R )‐NI/( S )‐PDI‐( S )‐NI films showed much higher | g abs | (0.08) than the other set (0.01), with helical assemblies formed via chiral memory effect. Notably, large‐area arrays of ( R )‐PDI‐( R )‐NI films enabled CPL imaging, and a bionic artificial visual system was constructed with this film as “retina” and an artificial neural network as “neural center” for reliable CPL discrimination, offering a scalable strategy for high‐performance chiral optoelectronics.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 38
Published July 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (16)

K

Ke Gao

State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, CAMS Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Biocatalysis of Natural Drugs, and NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products

Y

Ye In Cho

School of Chemical and Biological Engineering Institute of Chemical Processes Seoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea

W

Wenkai Zhao

Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials

S

Shijie Wang

Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco-Security of Southwest China, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University

S

Sang Hyuk Lee

J

Jaeyong Ahn

Department of Chemical Engineering

W

Wenda Zhao

Z

Zhaoyu Wang

Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials

Z

Zhiwei Wang

International Joint Research Laboratory of Nano-Micro Architecture Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry and College of Chemistry

Z

Zhenping Li

X

Xingshuo Chu

State Key Laboratory of Porous Metal Materials School of Materials Science and Engineering Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an P. R. China

P

Pei Zhou

School of Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Energy Storage Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Sustainable Polymer Materials

W

Wei Ma

G

Guankui Long

Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials

J

Joon Hak Oh

School of Chemical and Biological Engineering Institute of Chemical Processes Seoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea

X

Xiaobo Shang

State Key Laboratory for Porous Metal Materials Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter School of Materials Science and Engineering Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an 710049 P.R. China