RSA CE&C 2015-2021 Group descriptions

Molecular Systems and Materials Chemistry (MSMC) 53 MOLECULAR MATERIALS AND NANOSYSTEMS Program leader/section leader Prof .dr.ir. R.A.J. (René) Janssen Scientific staff FTE Full professor Prof .dr.ir. R.A.J. (René) Janssen 1.0 Associate professor Dr. S.C.J. (Stefan) Meskers 1.0 Assistant professor Dr.ir. M.M. (Martijn) Wienk 0.9 Mission The Molecular Materials and Nanosystems (M2N) group aims to be an internationally leading group in the discipline of novel organic and hybrid semiconductor materials and their optoelectronic devices. For this goal, we implemented a coherent scientific research and educational program on the chemistry, physics and materials science of functional molecular, polymer and hybrid materials that may find applications in photonic and electronic devices. Research themes M2N is an interdepartmental research group in the Departments of Chemical Engineering & Chemistry and Applied Physics at TU/e and is part of the Institute of Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS). M2N’s research is exploratory in nature. We aim to create ideas and generate new scientific insights in the area of novel, unconventional semiconductors and devices that advance the state of the art. Creating efficient functional devices requires an accurate understanding of the physical phenomena and control over materials and interfaces. Developing this knowledge enables us to explore designs and new ideas for improved functionality. By studying and modeling the operational mechanisms, we obtain insights into all relevant length scales that are essential for further developments. We combine the synthetic chemistry of molecules and materials with optical spectroscopy, electrochemistry, scanning probe microscopy and charge transport studies. An essential part of our activities is the development, understanding and modeling (drift diffusion, transfer matrix and kinetic Monte Carlo) of prototype optoelectronic devices, such as light-emitting devices, solar cells, transistors, photodiodes and batteries. Most of the topics we work on are within three main research themes: 1. Novel semiconductor solar cells and photodiodes We develop and investigate new organic and metal halide perovskite semiconductors, aiming for new, efficient photovoltaic energy conversion and detection of light.We synthesize new materials, investigate optical properties (polaritons, excitons), charge generation, recombination, morphology and thin-film formation and design, fabricate and test advanced solar cell and photodiode configurations to unravel operational mechanisms and advance the state of the art in performance levels. Specific highlights of our work include the development of a new class of narrow bandgap polymers and the construction of monolithic tandem, triple and quadruple junction solar cells for organic and perovskite semiconductors. We actively collaborate with partners in Solliance Solar Research, co-founded by TU/e, to develop future thin-film PV technologies. In collaboration with Holst Centre, we develop organic and perovskite photodetectors. 2. Organic light-emitting diodes Experimental and theoretical research is combined to understand and model fundamental physical aspects of OLEDs, starting with the opto-electronic processes occurring at the molecular level up to the level of a functioning device. Topics of recent interest in relation to OLEDs are exciton management, triplet-triplet annihilation, triplet-polaron quenching, thermally assisted delayed fluorescence and the inclusion of molecular vibrations in the