RSA CE&C 2015-2021 Group descriptions

Molecular Systems and Materials Chemistry (MSMC) 77 STIMULI-RESPONSIVE FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS AND DEVICES Program leader/section leader Prof.dr. A.P.H.J. (Albert) Schenning Scientific staff FTE Full professors Prof.dr. D.J. (Dirk) Broer ( until 08-2020 ) 1.0 until 03-31-2015 0.5 until 08-31-2020 Prof.dr. A.P.H.J. (Albert) Schenning 1.0 Associate professor Dr.ing. C.W.M. (Cees) Bastiaansen ( until 12-2021 ) 0.8 until 12-31-2018 0.6 until 08-31-2019 0.4 until 12-31-2020 0.2 until 12-31-2021 Assistant professors Dr. M.G. (Michael) Debije 1.0 Dr. D. (Danqing) Liu ( since 02-2019 ) 1.0 Mission The mission of the Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices (SFD) group is to introduce responsive functionalities into polymer materials and to integrate these polymers into active devices. Normal polymer materials typically offer only static functionalities. Stimuli- responsive or ‘smart’ materials are recognized as the next generation of polymer materials and the key to solving future societal challenges. The SFD group focuses on materials that change shape, color, transparency or porosity when addressed by stimuli including temperature, light, humidity and electricity. These newly-developed polymers are integrated into devices to demonstrate their scientific and societal impacts in the fields of sustainable energy, health and personal comfort. The SFD group uses a complete chain-of-knowledge approach spanning from molecular synthesis and material processing to device integration and evaluation. To pursue this integrated approach, SFD employs staff members with strong expertise in organic synthesis, self-assembly, nano- and micro-structuring, polymer chemistry and technology, mechanics, electronics, optics, and physics. Stimuli-responsive functional materials are developed by utilizing both top-down and bottom-up strategies combining molecular design and synthesis, processing, and device integration. For the bottom-up structuring of polymers, the self- organization of photopolymerizable liquid crystals is often used to obtain defect-free monolithic structures with a wide variety of molecular architectures and functionalities. Frequently-used top-down techniques include photolithography, photo-embossing and additive manufacturing. Research themes The research activities are divided into three main application areas: 1. Sustainable energy The increasing world population is driving an acute demand for sustainable energy generation, given the decreasing availability and negative environmental effects of fossil fuels. A major challenge is deploying ‘green’ energy systems at the point of greatest need: the urban setting. SFD focuses on the control of light in the built environment. Among the research efforts are (1) the use of fluorescent polymeric coatings and sheets to collect sunlight to generate electrical power and redistribute light for daylighting and (2) windows capable of responding to environmental changes for the control of irradiance within a room, the selective rejection of infrared light, the introduction of ‘privacy’ states, the collection, transport and conversion of thermal energy, and the generation of electrical currents. The application scope has been expanded to provide solutions on light capture and distribution