Research
Our research interests are centered around the development of (supra)molecular materials for smart and sustainable nanotechnologies that can respond to external stimuli and adapt to their operating conditions, with a particular focus on renewable energy conversion in Photovoltaics and neuromorphic computing. We rely on a multidisciplinary approach and international collaborations at the interface of chemistry, physics, material science, and engineering in the design, synthesis, and characterization of materials and functional devices.
Infrastructure
Our infrastructure links the development path from molecules to working devices. Molecular Synthesis starts in the S-MAT Molecular Lab (B501), with our bench spaces and fume hoods equipped with Schlenk lines and Heidolph hot plate workstations. Here, the RETSCH MM 400 mixer mill enables mechanochemical synthesis, and the BINDER vacuum oven is used for drying and controlled thermal. Next, material preparation involves mechanosynthetic powders and solution-processed thin films in the S-MAT Materials Lab (B520) on substrates that are cleaned and activated with the OSSILA UV ozone Cleaner or the DIENER plasma Cleaner in the Optoelectronic Lab (B506). The hotplate with a temperature controller is also used for spray pyrolysis of metal oxide layers. Moisture- and oxygen-sensitive layers are processed in the INERT and MBraun gloveboxes (B520), equipped with a Laurell and POLOS spin coater s and hotplates. Device fabrication is completed in the materials lab for solar cells and neuromorphic devices (memristors), where metal contacts are deposited by thermal evaporation using the INERT (Ångstrom) or MBraun evaporators. Finally, device analysis is carried out in the Optoelectronic Lab (B506). The ABET solar Simulator provides J–V characterization under standardized illumination, and the CICCI platform measures incident photon-to-current quantum efficiency (IPCE) of solar cells and neuromorphic characteristics of memristor devices. The FLUXIM Paios platform adds multi-mode electrical and optical measurements, whereas long-term stability is studied with the FLUXIM Litos Lite and Litos 8-channel and 32-channel systems, which stress many devices under controlled irradiation and environmental conditions in parallel. Together, these tools provide one connected workflow, from molecular systems through functional materials to devices.
Material synthesis
- Equipped Molecular Synthesis fume hoods (B501)
- RETSCH Mechanosynthesis Setup (Mixer Mill MM 400) : mechanochemical Synthesis (B501)
- BINDER Vacuum Oven : controlled thermal treatment (B501)
- INERT Glove box : inert-atmosphere processing of materials (B520)
- MBraun Glove Box : inert-atmosphere processing of materials (B520)
Device fabrication
- OSSILA UV Ozone Cleaner : substrate cleaning and activation (B506)
- DIENER Plasma Cleaner : plasma cleaning and surface modification (B506)
- Hotplate and Temperature Controller : spray pyrolysis and annealing (B506)
- POLOS Spin Coater : uniform thin Films and other functional layers (B506)
- INERT Evaporator (Ångstrom) : thermal evaporation of metal electrodes (B520)
- MBraun Evaporator : glovebox-integrated thermal evaporation (B520)
Optoelectronic characterisation
- ABET Solar Simulator : J–V characterization of solar cells (B506)
- CICCI Platform : IPCE measurements and memristor characteristics (B506)
- FLUXIM Paios : multi-mode electrical and optical characterization (B506)
- FLUXIM Litos Lite : parallel J–V and stability measurements (B506)
- FLUXIM Litos, 8 channels : Operational stability measurements (B506)
- FLUXIM Litos, 32 channels : Operational stability measurements (B506)
For further analysis , we have access to the Center for Molecular and Material Analytics (CCMA) and Materials Research Infrastructure (MARI) , which provide solution and solid-state NMR facilities, advanced mass spectrometry, and complementary