Professor
Jenny
Clark
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Head of Materials and Biological Physics Research Cluster
Professor of Materials Physics
jenny.clark@sheffield.ac.uk
Hicks Building
Full contact details
Professor Jenny Clark
Hicks Building
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Hicks Building
Hounsfield Road
Sheffield
S3 7RH
- Profile
-
My research interests involve understanding the photophysics of carbon-based materials such as biological materials, organic semiconductors and graphene.
I do this using a variety of spectroscopic techniques. For more information see my personal webpage or contact me.
Research Experience
- 2009-2013 Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow, Cambridge University, UK.
- 2009 Visiting Scholar, Hyderabad University, India.
- 2007-2009 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
Supervisor: Prof. Guglielmo Lanzani
Fellowships and Awards
- 2014 University of Sheffield Vice-Chancellor's Fellowship (5 years).
- 2010 Charles and Catherine Darwin Research Fellowship (3 years).
- 2009 Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (4 years).
- 2004 European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) student award.
- 2003 EPSRC PhD studentship and Industrial Case Award (Seiko Epson UK, 3 years).
Career Breaks
- 2012 Maternity leave (9 months)
- 2013 Maternity leave (13 months)
- Qualifications
-
- 2003-2007 PhD in Physics, Cambridge University, UK. Supervisor: Prof. C. Silva.
- 1999-2003 MSci in Physics with a Year in Europe, Imperial College, London, UK. (First Class Degree)
- Research interests
-
Time-resolved spectroscopy of carbon-based materials
To study organic semiconductors and biological samples, we use transient absorption and emission spectroscopy.
Transient absorption spectroscopy uses laser pulses as short as 7 femtoseconds (7 millionths of a billionth of a second) to take snapshots of the electronic and vibrational state of the molecules after they have absorbed light. By delaying the time at which the 'probe' pulse arrives to take a snapshot of the molecule, we can track the dynamics of the electrons in the molecule as a function of time.
Transient emission spectroscopy is similar, but measures the photons emitted from the sample.
We measure materials and biological samples as a function of temperature (down to 4K) and magnetic field (up to 700mT).
- Publications
-
Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- Spin Statistics for Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion: Exchange Coupling, Intermolecular Orientation, and Reverse Intersystem Crossing. JACS Au, 1(12), 2188-2201.
- Emissive spin-0 triplet-pairs are a direct product of triplet–triplet annihilation in pentacene single crystals and anthradithiophene films. Nature Chemistry, 13(2), 163-171.
- Manipulating molecules with strong coupling: harvesting triplet excitons in organic exciton microcavities. Chemical Science, 11(2), 343-354. View this article in WRRO
- Triplet-pair states in organic semiconductors. Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, 70(1), 323-351.
- The Nature of Singlet Exciton Fission in Carotenoid Aggregates. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 137(15), 5130-5139.
- Triplet Dynamics in Pentacene Crystals: Applications to Fission-Sensitized Photovoltaics. Advanced Materials, 26(6), 919-924.
- Ultrafast Long-Range Charge Separation in Organic Semiconductor Photovoltaic Diodes. Science, 343(6170), 512-516.
All publications
Journal articles
- Intersystem crossing outcompetes triplet-pair separation from 1(TT) below 270 K in anthradithiophene films. Journal of the American Chemical Society. View this article in WRRO
- Fast, slow and reverse polymorph transformations in thin films of a 5,10-dihydroindolo[3,2-b]indole derivative. Journal of Materials Chemistry C. View this article in WRRO
- The importance of accounting for non-radiative decay when screening materials for singlet fission: the case of Pigment Red 254. Journal of Materials Chemistry C. View this article in WRRO
- Microstructure determines crystallinity-driven singlet fission efficiency in diF-TES-ADT. Scientific Reports, 15(1). View this article in WRRO
- Conjugation length dependence of intramolecular singlet fission in a series of regioregular oligo 3-alkyl(thienylene-vinylene)s. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 147(1), 662-668. View this article in WRRO
- Macrocyclic Parallel Dimer Showing Quantum Coherence of Quintet Multiexcitons at Room Temperature. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 146(37), 25527-25535.
- Radiative pumping in a strongly coupled microcavity filled with a neat molecular film showing excimer emission. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 26(20), 14745-14753. View this article in WRRO
- Exploring the versatile uses of triplet states: working principles, limitations, and recent progress in phosphorescence, TADF, and TTA. ACS Applied Optical Materials, 2(12), 2476-2500. View this article in WRRO
- Singlet fission is incoherent in pristine orthorhombic single crystals of rubrene: no evidence of triplet-pair emission. Faraday Discussions, 250, 162-180. View this article in WRRO
- Twisted carotenoids do not support efficient intramolecular singlet fission in the orange carotenoid protein. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 14(26), 6135-6142. View this article in WRRO
- Author Correction: Emissive spin-0 triplet-pairs are a direct product of triplet–triplet annihilation in pentacene single crystals and anthradithiophene films. Nature Chemistry, 15(7), 1040-1040.
- Metal‐organic framework nanosheets as templates to enhance performance in semi‐crystalline organic photovoltaic cells. Advanced Science, 9(21). View this article in WRRO
- In optimized rubrene-based nanoparticle blends for photon upconversion, singlet energy collection outcompetes triplet-pair separation, not singlet fission. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 10(12), 4684-4696. View this article in WRRO
- Spin Statistics for Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion: Exchange Coupling, Intermolecular Orientation, and Reverse Intersystem Crossing. JACS Au, 1(12), 2188-2201.
- Emissive spin-0 triplet-pairs are a direct product of triplet–triplet annihilation in pentacene single crystals and anthradithiophene films. Nature Chemistry, 13(2), 163-171.
- A Thermostable Protein Matrix for Spectroscopic Analysis of Organic Semiconductors. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 142(32), 13898-13907.
- Metal–organic framework nanosheets for enhanced performance of organic photovoltaic cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 8(12), 6067-6075. View this article in WRRO
- Manipulating molecules with strong coupling: harvesting triplet excitons in organic exciton microcavities. Chemical Science, 11(2), 343-354. View this article in WRRO
- A hybrid organic–inorganic polariton LED. Light: Science & Applications, 8(1). View this article in WRRO
- Heavy-atom effects on intramolecular singlet fission in a conjugated polymer. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 151(4).
- Triplet-pair states in organic semiconductors. Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, 70(1), 323-351.
- Strong coupling in a microcavity containing β-carotene. Optics Express, 26(3), 3320-3327. View this article in WRRO
- The entangled triplet pair state in acene and heteroacene materials. Nature Communications, 8(1). View this article in WRRO
- Intermolecular states in organic dye dispersions: excimers vs aggregates. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 33(2017), 8380-8389. View this article in WRRO
- Efficient Radiative Pumping of Polaritons in a Strongly Coupled Microcavity by a Fluorescent Molecular Dye. Advanced Optical Materials. View this article in WRRO
- Polaritons: Efficient radiative pumping of polaritons in a strongly coupled microcavity by a fluorescent molecular dye (Advanced Optical Materials 10/2016). Advanced Optical Materials, 4(10), 1614-1614. View this article in WRRO
- The Nature of Singlet Exciton Fission in Carotenoid Aggregates. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 137(15), 5130-5139.
- Humidity, light and temperature dependent characteristics of Au/N-BuHHPDI/Au surface type multifunctional sensor. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 192, 565-571.
- Triplet Dynamics in Pentacene Crystals: Applications to Fission-Sensitized Photovoltaics. Advanced Materials, 26(6), 919-924.
- Ultrafast Long-Range Charge Separation in Organic Semiconductor Photovoltaic Diodes. Science, 343(6170), 512-516.
- Temperature-Independent Singlet Exciton Fission in Tetracene. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 135(44), 16680-16688.
- Activated Singlet Exciton Fission in a Semiconducting Polymer. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 135(34), 12747-12754.
- Control of Intrachain Charge Transfer in Model Systems for Block Copolymer Photovoltaic Materials. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 135(13), 5074-5083.
- Femtosecond torsional relaxation. Nature Physics, 8(3), 225-231.
- Giant broadband nonlinear optical absorption response in dispersed graphene single sheets. Nature Photonics, 5(9), 554-560.
- Ultrafast Dynamics of Exciton Fission in Polycrystalline Pentacene. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 133(31), 11830-11833.
- Two-Photon Poly(phenylenevinylene) DFB Laser. Chemistry of Materials, 23(3), 805-809.
- Stimulated emission and ultrafast optical switching in a ter(9,9′‐spirobifluorene)‐co‐methylmethacrylate copolymer. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, 49(1), 52-61.
- Organic photonics for communications. Nature Photonics, 4(7), 438-446.
- Gain and ultrafast optical switching in PMMA optical fibers and films doped with luminescent conjugated polymers and oligomers. Frontiers of Optoelectronics in China, 3(1), 45-53.
- Femtosecond laser fabrication of microfluidic channels for organic photonic devices. Applied Optics, 48(31), G114-G114.
- Determining exciton bandwidth and film microstructure in polythiophene films using linear absorption spectroscopy. Applied Physics Letters, 94(16).
- Determining exciton coherence from the photoluminescence spectral line shape in poly(3-hexylthiophene) thin films. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 130(7).
- Ultrafast optofluidic gain switch based on conjugated polymer in femtosecond laser fabricated microchannels. Applied Physics Letters, 94(4).
- Charge recombination in distributed heterostructures of semiconductor discotic and polymeric materials.. Journal of Applied Physics, 103(12).
- Blue polymer optical fiber amplifiers based on conjugated fluorene oligomers. Journal of Nanophotonics, 2(1), 023504-023504.
- Singlet fission mediates carotenoid-to-bacteriochlorophyll energy transfer in purple photosynthetic bacteria. Nature Chemistry.
- Improved Stability and Brightness Following Iterative Redesign of a De Novo Biliprotein. Biochemistry.
- High-spin state dynamics and quintet-mediated emission in intramolecular singlet fission. Nature Communications, 17(1).
- Rational design of pigment–polymer antenna complexes. Chemical Science.
- Excitonic organic materials for photochemical and optoelectronic applications: general discussion. Faraday Discussions, 250, 298-334.
- Correction: In optimized rubrene-based nanoparticle blends for photon upconversion, singlet energy collection outcompetes triplet-pair separation, not singlet fission. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 12(47), 19307-19307.
- Conjugation-length dependence of regioregular oligo 3-alkyl(thienylene-vinylene)s demonstrates polyene-like behaviour with weak electron–electron correlations. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 25(16), 11205-11215.
- Ultrafast optical gain switch in organic photonic devices. J. Mater. Chem., 20(3), 519-523.
- Role of Intermolecular Coupling in the Photophysics of Disordered Organic Semiconductors: Aggregate Emission in Regioregular Polythiophene. Physical Review Letters, 98(20).
- Molecular-weight dependence of interchain polaron delocalization and exciton bandwidth in high-mobility conjugated polymers. Physical Review B, 74(11).
Book chapters
- Pump-push-probe transient spectroscopy of isolated conjugated oligomers, Springer Series in Chemical Physics (pp. 463-465). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Conference proceedings
- A tale of two triplets: manipulating and harvesting triplet pairs with strong light-matter coupling (Conference Presentation). Physical Chemistry of Semiconductor Materials and Interfaces XVII (pp 28-28), 19 August 2018 - 23 August 2018.
- Ultrafast Long-Range Charge Separation in Organic Semiconductor Photovoltaic Diodes. 19th International Conference on Ultrafast Phenomena (pp 07.Mon.C.7-07.Mon.C.7), 2014.
- Plastic optical fibres dopants to obtain gain enlargement and ultrafast optical switching. SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 8001 (pp 800147-800147)
- Chip cracks during assembly: Finding and eliminating the critical defect. 2011 IEEE 61st Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC) (pp 509-516), 31 May 2011 - 3 June 2011.
- Investigation of Local Dynamics on the Sub-micron Scale in Organic Blends Using an Ultrafast Confocal Microscope. MRS Proceedings, Vol. 1270
- Nanoscale Imaging of the Interface Dynamics in Polymer Blends by Femtosecond Pump‐Probe Confocal Microscopy. Advanced Materials, Vol. 22(28) (pp 3048-3051)
- Use of wafer backside inspection and SPR to address systemic tool and process issues. SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 7638 (pp 763818-763818)
- Nanoscale Imaging of the Interface Dynamics in Polymer Blends by Femtosecond Pump-Probe Confocal Microscopy. International Conference on Ultrafast Phenomena (pp FA3-FA3), 2010.
- Organic optofluidic devices produced by femtosecond laser micromachining. 2009 International Symposium on Optomechatronic Technologies (pp 414-418), 21 September 2009 - 23 September 2009.
- Polymer-based Optofluidic devices in microchannels fabricated by femtosecond laser irradiation and chemical etching (FLICE). 2009 3rd ICTON Mediterranean Winter Conference (ICTON-MW) (pp 1-1), 10 December 2009 - 12 December 2009.
- Ultrafast confocal microscope for time-resolved imaging of thin films. CLEO/Europe - EQEC 2009 - European Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics and the European Quantum Electronics Conference (pp 1-1), 14 June 2009 - 19 June 2009.
- Microfluidic channels fabricated by femtosecond laser irradiation and chemical etching for optofluidic devices.. CLEO/Europe - EQEC 2009 - European Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics and the European Quantum Electronics Conference (pp 1-1), 14 June 2009 - 19 June 2009.
- Ultrafast Confocal Microscope for Functional Imaging of Organic Thin Films (pp 161-165)
- Ultrafast Confocal Microscope for Functional Imaging of Organic Thin Films. Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/International Quantum Electronics Conference (pp CME3-CME3), 2009.
- Ultrafast confocal microscope for time-resolved imaging of thin films. Optics Infobase Conference Papers
- Microfluidic channels fabricated by femtosecond laser irradiation and chemical etching for optofluidic devices. Optics Infobase Conference Papers
- Organic optofluidic devices produced by femtosecond laser micromachining. ISOT: 2009 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON OPTOMECHATRONIC TECHNOLOGIES (pp 404-408)
- Polyfluorene-PMMA copolymers for plastic optical fibers with gain. SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 6999 (pp 69990M-69990M)
- Ultrafast Photonics in Polymers. Frontiers in Optics 2008/Laser Science XXIV/Plasmonics and Metamaterials/Optical Fabrication and Testing (pp LWC2-LWC2), 2008.
- Ultrafast photonics in polymers. Optics InfoBase Conference Papers
- Ultrafast resonant optical switching in organic materials doped in matrix. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, Vol. 1003 (pp 142-146)
- Exploring Triplet-Triplet Annihilation in Organic Materials in the Strong Light-Matter Coupling Regime. Proceedings of the MATSUS Fall 2023 Conference, 16 October 2023 - 20 October 2023.
Datasets
- Data for "Emissive spin-0 triplet-pairs are a direct product of triplet-triplet annihilation in pentacene single crystals and anthradithiophene films".
- Data for "Spin statistics for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion: exchange coupling, intermolecular orientation and reverse intersystem crossing".
- Data for "In optimized rubrene-based nanoparticle blends for photon upconversion, singlet energy collection outcompetes triplet-pair separation, not singlet fission".
- Data for 'Twisted Carotenoids Do Not Support Efficient Intramolecular Singlet Fission in the Orange Carotenoid Protein'.
- Data to accompany "Conjugation Length Dependence of Intramolecular Singlet Fission in a Series of regioregular oligo 3-alkyl(thienylene-vinylene)s".
- Rational Design of Pigment-Polymer Antenna Complexes.
- Datasets for figures and supplementary figures for 'Singlet Fission Mediates Carotenoid-to-Bacterichlorophyll Energy Transfer in Purple Photosynthetic Bacteria'.
Preprints
- Singlet fission contributes to solar energy harvesting in photosynthesis, arXiv.
- Assessment of the Role and Origin of S* in Orange Carotenoid Protein Photoconversion, arXiv.
- A Macrocyclic Parallel Dimer Showing Quantum Coherence of Quintet Multiexcitons at Room Temperature, American Chemical Society (ACS).
- Twisted carotenoids do not support efficient intramolecular singlet fission in the orange carotenoid protein, arXiv.
- Spin statistics for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion: exchange coupling, intermolecular orientation and reverse intersystem crossing, American Chemical Society (ACS).
- Band-edge Excitation of Carotenoids Removes S* Revealing Triplet-pair
Contributions to the S1 Absorption Spectrum.
- Manipulating matter with strong coupling: harvesting triplet excitons in organic exciton microcavities, arXiv.
- Spin Statistics for Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion: Exchange Coupling, Intermolecular Orientation, and Reverse Intersystem Crossing. JACS Au, 1(12), 2188-2201.