The realisation of any excitonic device or technology requires control over excitons. Through theory, advanced spectroscopic analysis and new materials, we are gaining more understanding and control of the four dimensions of an exciton: Energy, Lifetime, Position and Spin/Polarisation. The outcomes of this theme include new ways to coherently control excitons, new excitonic materials, nanostructure controlled excitonic motifs and new theories of exciton transport.

Excitons are short-lived electron-hole bound pairs which are created when a light particle (photon) interacts with an atom, molecule, nanocrystal or polymer. The conversion of light into electrical energy (in solar cells) and electrical energy into light (LEDs) occurs via excitonic processes, and understanding their properties is essential to the development of new materials that have a higher light-to-electrical-energy conversion efficiency (and vice versa).

Therefore, in Theme 2 we seek to understand the fundamental processes that govern exciton generation, lifetime and transport across different length scales. This theme comprises three research platforms: Coherent Control of Excitons (Platform 2.1), Excitons at Interfaces (Platform 2.2) and Multiscale Models of Exciton Transport (Platform 2.3).