RSA CE&C 2015-2021 Group descriptions

Molecular Systems and Materials Chemistry (MSMC) 57 home-built setups for the electrical and opto-electrical characterization of solar cells, light- emitting diodes and transistors. This includes an ultra-sensitive photocurrent spectrometer to characterize defect states in solar cells and a dedicated setup for determining quasi-Fermi level splitting in semiconductors. For electrochemical analysis and battery testing, we use a range of multichannel potentiostats. Energy-resolved electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is being developed to study the density of states in the bandgap of organic and perovskite semiconductors. Transistors and photodetectors are characterized with temperature-controlled dedicated probe stations and semiconductor parameter analyzers. For ultraviolet and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we have a multi-chamber EscaLab II system. Three atomic force (AFM) microscopes are used for surface analysis and a low-temperature (4K) scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is used for work on 2D materials. M2N is co-owner of the Compass LINUX computer cluster at the Department of Applied Physics. We have access to TEM and SEM in the Department of CEC and at the Solliance facility on the high-tech campus. Furthermore, we share modern facilities for molecular and macromolecular characterization via NMR (400 MHz, 500 MHz), MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and chromatography techniques (GC, HPLC, GPC) within the inter-departmental division Molecular Science and Technology (MST). Prospects Development of the research field The field of novel organic and perovskite semiconductors for opto-electronic applications continues to attract worldwide attention in science and technology. Noteworthy developments include the breakthrough of commercial OLED displays, the discovery of efficient thermally- activated delayed fluorescence, the unsurpassed efficiency rise of perovskite solar cells (recently exceeding 25%) and the development of novel acceptor semiconductors resulting in spectacular efficiencies of close to 20% for organic photovoltaic devices. The M2N research group is working on a range of topics in this dynamic field of research. A combination of chemistry, materials science and physics will be a key to advancements. Besides continuing attention to solar cells and light-emitting diodes, new opportunities will arise in the field of photo and X-ray detectors, energy storage and organic (flow) batteries. We are also working on the development of a molecular-scale model from which the ultimate resolution limits of EUV photolithography will be assessed. This provides the opportunity to extend the expertise on molecular materials and on advanced simulation methods to the research field of higher- energy processes and to an application domain that is new for the group. Viability Over the years of 2015-2021, the combined M2N group at the Departments of CEC and AP has consisted of about 50 staff, postdocs, PhD students and MSc students. M2N continues to attract funding from different sources, such as NWO and European programs, and has been profiting from several large research grants (Gravitation program FMS, ERC Advanced Grant, Spinoza). We continue to apply for such large-scale funding. In addition, M2N actively collaborates with national and international groups in applying for research funding. At a national level, these are the Joint Solar Program (NWO) and the Large-Scale Research Infrastructure SOLARLab (NWO, submitted). We are in the final stage of closing a comprehensive direct funding project with industry in the field of solar cells. At an international level, we have been able to attract a continuous flow of funding in collaborative projects funded by the European Commission in the FP7 and H2020 programs via international training networks (ITN) and European joint doctorate (EJD) projects as well as in calls related to energy or electronics. At present, four Horizon Europe (two MCSA and two RIA) projects are under review. For the coming years, the viability of the