Electrons Blast Across Solar Materials in Just 18 Femtoseconds

Atomic vibrations act as a 'molecular catapult' to propel electrons at near-maximum natural speeds, challenging long-held solar energy design rules.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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In a breakthrough discovery, researchers at the University of Cambridge have observed electrons being launched across solar materials at speeds close to the fastest allowed by nature - just 18 femtoseconds, or less than 20 quadrillionths of a second. This challenges decades-old assumptions about how solar energy systems operate, as the electrons ride the natural vibrations of molecules like a 'molecular catapult' rather than drifting randomly.

Why it matters

This finding could open new paths for designing more efficient solar technologies and light-harvesting systems, as ultrafast charge separation is fundamental to organic solar cells, photodetectors, and photocatalytic devices that produce clean hydrogen fuel. Instead of trying to suppress molecular motion, researchers can now learn to harness vibrations as a tool to improve energy capture and conversion.

The details

In laboratory experiments, the researchers observed electric charge separating during a single molecular vibration, far faster than long-standing theories predicted. They intentionally created a system that, according to conventional theory, should have had slow charge transfer, but instead saw the electron launched in one coherent burst across the material interface. The vibrations effectively 'catapult' the electron, rather than allowing slow, random diffusion.

  • The experiments lasted just 18 femtoseconds, less than 20 quadrillionths of a second.
  • The research was published in Nature Communications on March 5, 2026.

The players

Pratyush Ghosh

Research Fellow at St John's College, Cambridge, and first author of the study.

Akshay Rao

Professor of Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory and former St John's College Research Associate, who was a co-author of the study.

Rakesh Arul

St John's College Research Fellow and contributor to the research.

University of Cambridge

The institution where the breakthrough research was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“We deliberately designed a system that, according to conventional theory, should not have transferred charge this fast. By conventional design rules, this system should have been slow and that's what makes the result so striking.”

— Pratyush Ghosh, Research Fellow, St John's College, Cambridge (Nature Communications)

“Instead of drifting randomly, the electron is launched in one coherent burst. The vibration acts like a molecular catapult. The vibrations don't just accompany the process, they actively drive it.”

— Pratyush Ghosh, Research Fellow, St John's College, Cambridge (Nature Communications)

“Our results show that the ultimate speed of charge separation isn't determined only by static electronic structure. It depends on how molecules vibrate. That gives us a new design principle. In a way, this gives us a new rulebook. Instead of fighting molecular vibrations, we can learn how to use the right ones.”

— Pratyush Ghosh, Research Fellow, St John's College, Cambridge (Nature Communications)

What’s next

The researchers plan to further investigate how to harness molecular vibrations to optimize the design of solar materials and light-harvesting technologies.

The takeaway

This breakthrough discovery challenges long-held assumptions in solar energy science, suggesting a new strategy for designing more efficient light-capturing systems by leveraging, rather than suppressing, the natural vibrations of molecules to drive ultrafast charge separation.