Objective
Within an optical cavity, strong interactions between molecules and confined light can create hybrid quantum states called polaritons, which have shown great potential to control chemistry. Experiments over the last decade have achieved modified chemical reactivity and product selectivity by strongly coupling molecular vibrations to cavity modes, opening up the tantalising possibilities of bond-selective chemical transformations or a new approach to catalysis. Polariton-altered chemistry could even potentially improve synthetic yields or enable the production of as-yet unavailable chemical products. However, useful application of polariton chemistry cannot be possible while its underlying mechanism is not understood. Theoretical treatments have so far struggled to account for the complex liquid-phase environment of all existing reports of vibrational polariton chemistry. Convergence between theoretical and experimental efforts therefore needs a simpler system on which to study benchmark chemical processes.
To that end, I will examine polariton chemistry in gas-phase molecules, avoiding the complications of solvent interactions and allowing individual quantum states to be coupled to the cavity. Using a cryogenic buffer gas cell within an optical cavity to prepare gas-phase molecular polaritons, I will study the influence of polariton formation on benchmark gas-phase chemical processes. I will detect polariton formation using transmission spectroscopy and use nanosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to monitor reaction progress. Theoretical analysis of polaritonic influence on gas-phase reaction dynamics will advance first-principles understanding of polariton chemistry. POLCHEMGAS will thus provide a roadmap for exploiting polaritonic effects to achieve predictive control over chemical reactivity.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences condensed matter physics quasiparticles
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy emission spectroscopy
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2026-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CV4 8UW COVENTRY
United Kingdom
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