Supramolecular methodologies for the assembly of optical microresonators from functional organic materials

An optical microresonator is a micrometer-scale object that can confine light inside its body via total internal reflection at the boundary. In addition to well-established applications, including laser oscillators, optical sensors, and quantum memory, optical resonators have attracted renewed attention in chemistry and biology as minute and highly sensitive sensors that work in the environment and inside biological tissues and cells without any connected wires. Optical resonators should be functional for facilitating molecular interactions and biological compatibility, which is, however, challenging with conventional materials and processing techniques. In contrast, the authors have been tackling this issue by using supramolecular chemistry, which enables the assembly of optical resonators from chemically and biologically functional organic materials in solution. This article reviews our recent progress on the methodologies for making organic optical resonators and their emergent optical properties. Optical resonators have attracted renewed attention in chemistry and biology as minute and highly sensitive sensors that work in the environment and inside biological tissues and cells without any connected wires. Optical resonators should be functional for facilitating molecular interactions and biological compatibility, which is, however, challenging with conventional materials and processing techniques. In contrast, the authors have been tackling this issue by using supramolecular chemistry. This article reviews our recent progress on the methodologies for making organic optical resonators and their emergent optical properties.