Osaka Institute of Technology: Smartly 'Adding' Spiral Light

A research group led by Associate Professor Tomoyasu Hirai at the Osaka Institute of Technology, in collaboration with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (Taiwan) and others, successfully generated circularly polarized light by encapsulating molecules within chiral silica, a spiral nano-glass material. By combining this with 'upconversion'—a technique that adds multiple low-energy light photons to convert them into higher-energy light—they achieved 'UC-CPL' (Upconversion Circularly Polarized Luminescence). While traditional methods required complex molecular synthesis, this study achieved the effect through 'molecular arrangement' and 'spatial design,' enabling even achiral molecules to exhibit circularly polarized light. This breakthrough holds promise for next-generation displays, optical communications, and security materials. The results were published in 'Angewandte Chemie International Edition'.