Organic semiconductor research has produced a breakthrough that improves electronic device performance between OLED displays and quantum computers. An innovative chiral semiconductor tested in research between the University of Cambridge and the Eindhoven University of Technology functions by guiding electrons through spiral paths which shows promise for efficiency improvements in display technology and spintronic applications. The research was published in Science and can be found here:
Chowdhury, R., Preuss, M. D., Cho, H.-H., Thompson, J. J. P., Sen, S., K. Baikie, T., Ghosh, P., Boeije, Y., Chua, X. W., Chang, K.-W., Guo, E., van der Tol, J., van den Bersselaar, B. W. L., Taddeucci, A., Daub, N., Dekker, D. M., Keene, S. T., Vantomme, G., Ehrler, B., … Friend, R. H. (2025). Circularly polarized electroluminescence from chiral supramolecular semiconductor thin films. Science, 387(6739), 1175–1181. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adt3011
The discovery rests on triazatruxene (TAT) at its core. The compound self-assembles into a helical formation that enables electron motion like a spiral pattern similar to a screw thread. Through this procedure the matter generates circularly polarised light which contains directional structure for right or left rotation. The majority of traditional inorganic semiconductors founded on silicon have regular structures lacking preferred electron flow directions. The semiconductor became accessible to new electronic material science approaches through the controlled introduction of chirality. Professor Sir Richard Friend from Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory, who co-led the research said:
“When I started working with organic semiconductors, many people doubted their potential, but now they dominate display technology, unlike rigid inorganic semiconductors, molecular materials offer incredible flexibility—allowing us to design entirely new structures, like chiral LEDs. It’s like working with a Lego set with every kind of shape you can imagine, rather than just rectangular bricks.”
Slight modifications in molecular stacking helped align the semiconducting molecules into well-ordered right- or left-handed spiral columns. The chiral configuration naturally influences the electron spin, directly affecting the polarisation of emitted light. This mechanism, according to the researchers, offers a practical way to integrate chiral structures into organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) without the complexities encountered in conventional inorganic systems.
Co-first author Marco Preuss explains that when excited by blue or ultraviolet light, the self-assembled TAT emits a bright, green light with distinct circular polarisation. He said:
“When excited by blue or ultraviolet light, self-assembled TAT emits bright green light with strong circular polarisation—an effect that has been difficult to achieve in semiconductors until now, the structure of TAT allows electrons to move efficiently while affecting how light is emitted.”
The integration of a chiral semiconductor could lessen the light filtering losses common in today’s displays, potentially contributing to brighter screens that consume less power.
Beyond display technology, the implications of controlling electron spin extend to next-generation computing methods. The capacity to influence electron spin paves the way for advancements in spintronics, where electron spin rather than charge is used for information processing. This approach could lead to computing systems that are not only faster but also more secure.
The potential benefits of circularly polarised OLEDs (CP-OLEDs), as demonstrated by the new technique, include record-breaking efficiency and brightness levels. Independent evaluations within engineering circles have suggested that reworking familiar OLED fabrication methods to embed chiral properties offers a promising pathway to overcome longstanding energy waste issues. Co-first author Rituparno Chowdhury, from Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory said:
“We’ve essentially reworked the standard recipe for making OLEDs like we have in our smartphones, allowing us to trap a chiral structure within a stable, non-crystallising matrix, this provides a practical way to create circularly polarised LEDs, something that has long eluded the field.”
The organic semiconductor industry which exceeds $60 billion is set for transformation by incorporating these chiral materials at its core. This research demonstrates advanced knowledge of molecular electronics while paving the way for revolutionary uses of electronic devices through practical applications.
Hassan graduated with a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Chester (UK). He currently works as a design engineering consultant for one of the largest engineering firms in the world along with being an associate member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
