(Press-News.org) EMBARGOED UNTIL 10:00 AM GMT / 05:00 ET WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2025
Chemists design OLEDs that electrically flip the handedness of light
Researchers from the University of Oxford have for the first time discovered an approach to electrically switch organic LEDs (OLEDs) to emit either left- or right-handed circularly polarized light without changing the light-emitting molecules. This could be useful for a range of technological applications, from more energy efficient OLED displays, to optical information transfer. They describe their results in a study published today (26 Nov) in Nature Photonics.
Usually, the handedness of such circularly polarized light from LEDs is controlled by choosing a particular mirror image form of the light-emitting molecule within the device. These mirror image forms are referred to as left- or right-handed, or chiral, which can be thought of as similar to choosing whether a corkscrew twists to the left or to the right. The handedness of the molecule controls the handedness of the emitted light. This necessarily requires access to both mirror image forms of the molecule, which are complex and expensive to prepare.
Now, a team from the University of Oxford have shown for the first time that both left- and right-handed forms of circularly polarized light can be produced by just one mirror form of the molecule in an OLED.
The researchers managed to switch the handedness of the emitted light electrically, without changing the material itself. They achieved this by designing emitting materials that show unusual effects on circularly polarized light, together with careful control of the way the electronic charges recombine inside the device. Depending on whether charge transport is balanced or unbalanced, the device produces one or the other mirror form of circularly polarized light. Key to this unexpected outcome is the use of an organic polymeric emitting material in the device that self-assemblies into a highly twisted structure.
Controlling light polarization is of particular interest for current and future technologies including low power displays, encrypted communications, and high-performance quantum applications. “Adding circular polarization allows for additional information to be encoded into the light signal” explains Professor Matthew Fuchter (Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford), the lead author of the study. “Rather than your signal being simply on or off, it could additionally be on-and-left or on-and-right.”
Previous methods of controlling OLED light circular polarization relied on separating differently handed forms of the same molecule, a process which is laborious, expensive and poorly scalable. This new approach therefore provides a paradigm shift in creating circularly polarized LEDs with controllable circular polarization.
Excitingly, the team’s study demonstrates new fundamental links between molecule chirality and light chirality, commonly called optical activity. The team hopes that this fundamental insight into the physics of chiral organic materials will lead the way to new applications in areas such as advanced displays, secure communication systems, and quantum technologies.
Notes to editors
For media enquiries and interview requests please contact: Professor Matt Fuchter: matthew.fuchter@chem.ox.ac.uk
The study ‘Electrical control of photon spin angular momentum in organic electroluminescent materials’ will be published in Nature Photonics at 10:00 GMT / 05:00 ET on Wednesday 26 November 2025 at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-025-01780-4.
To view a copy of the paper in advance, under embargo, contact: matthew.fuchter@chem.ox.ac.uk
About the University of Oxford
Oxford University has been placed number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the tenth year running, and number 3 in the QS World Rankings 2024. At the heart of this success are the twin-pillars of our ground-breaking research and innovation and our distinctive educational offer.
Oxford is world-famous for research and teaching excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research alongside our personalised approach to teaching sparks imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.
Through its research commercialisation arm, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford is the highest university patent filer in the UK and is ranked first in the UK for university spinouts, having created more than 300 new companies since 1988. Over a third of these companies have been created in the past five years. The university is a catalyst for prosperity in Oxfordshire and the United Kingdom, contributing around £16.9 billion to the UK economy in 2021/22, and supports more than 90,400 full time jobs.
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Chemists design OLEDs that electrically flip the handedness of light
2025-11-26
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