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Molecular chromophores provide a broad range of possibilities for developing next-generation light-energy conversion applications. These π-conjugated materials exhibit high extinction coefficients, ease of synthetic tunability, and desirable semiconducting properties, which make them ideal for use in photovoltaics, solar fuel production, and energy storage. However, these systems are also subject to a complex balance of order and disorder, which mediates the light-matter interactions that drive material function. Photoactive processes such as light-harvesting, energy transport, and charge separation depend on factors such as structural disorder and intermolecular coupling interactions. In order to predictively design new and improved systems, we must understand these structure-function relationships across the molecular, supermolecular, and device length scales. This presentation will highlight progress towards addressing this challenge, with specific examples that demonstrate how disorder can be a valuable tool for optimizing material functionality. |