Exceptional points (EPs) can achieve intriguing asymmetric control in non-Hermitian systems due to the degeneracy of eigenstates. Here, we present a general method that extends this specific asymmetric response of EP photonic systems to address any arbitrary fully-polarized light. By rotating the meta-structures at EP, Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase can be exclusively encoded on one of the circular polarization-conversion channels. To address any arbitrary wavefront, we superpose the optical signals originating from two orthogonally polarized -yet degenerate- EP eigenmodes. The construction of such orthogonal EP eigenstates pairs is achieved by applying mirror-symmetry to the nanostructure geometry flipping thereby the EP eigenmode handedness from left to right circular polarization. Non-Hermitian reflective PB metasurfaces designed using such EP superposition enable arbitrary, yet unidirectional, vectorial wavefront shaping devices. Our results open new avenues for topological wave control and illustrate the capabilities of topological photonics to distinctively operate on arbitrary polarization-state with enhanced performances.
Exploration of upconversion luminescence from lanthanide emitters through energy migration has profound implications for fundamental research and technology development. However, energy migration-mediated upconversion requires stringent experimental conditions, such as high power excitation and special migratory ions in the host lattice, imposing selection constraints on lanthanide emitters. Here we demonstrate photon upconversion of diverse lanthanide emitters by harnessing triplet exciton-mediated energy relay. Compared with gadolinium-based systems, this energy relay is less dependent on excitation power and enhances the emission intensity of Tb3+ by 158-fold. Mechanistic investigations reveal that emission enhancement is attributable to strong coupling between lanthanides and surface molecules, which enables fast triplet generation (<100 ps) and subsequent near-unity triplet transfer efficiency from surface ligands to lanthanides. Moreover, the energy relay approach supports long-distance energy transfer and allows upconversion modulation in microstructures. These findings enhance fundamental understanding of energy transfer at molecule-nanoparticle interfaces and open exciting avenues for developing hybrid, high-performance optical materials.
Development of white organic light-emitting diodes based on purely thermally activated delayed fluorescence with a single-emissive-layer configuration has been a formidable challenge. Here, we report the rational design of a donor-acceptor energy-relaying exciplex and its utility in fabricating single-emissive-layer, thermally activated delayed fluorescence-based white organic light-emitting diodes that exhibit 100% internal quantum efficiency, 108.2 lm W−1 power efficiency, and 32.7% external quantum efficiency. This strategy enables thin-film fabrication of an 8 cm × 8 cm thermally activated delayed fluorescence white organic light-emitting diodes (10 inch2) prototype with 82.7 lm W−1 power efficiency and 25.0% external quantum efficiency. Introduction of a phosphine oxide-based acceptor with a steric group to the exciplex limits donor-acceptor triplet coupling, providing dual levels of high-lying and low-lying triplet energy. Transient spectroscopic characterizations confirm that a ladder-like energy relaying occurs from the high-lying triplet level of the exciplex to a blue emitter, then to the low-lying triplet level of the phosphine oxide acceptor, and ultimately to the yellow emitter. Our results demonstrate the broad applicability of energy relaying in multicomponent systems for exciton harvesting, providing opportunities for the development of third-generation white organic light-emitting diode light sources.