Materials for Organic and Hybrid Optoelectronics

A variety of organic and inorganic materials are used in fabricating optoelectronic devices. While the active layer of the device often consists of a blend of organic small molecules or conjugated polymers, transport layers and electrodes are often inorganic. We explore a range of new materials for optoelectronic application and investigate their optical, structural and electronic properties.

Metal oxides

Metal oxides can be used as a transport layer in an optoelectronic device or as part of the active layer in the case of a hybrid solar cell. We investigate how doping of metal oxides can change their properties and as a result the performance of the optoelectronic device. For this purpose we investigate both simple bilayer architecture and nanostructured metal oxide films which are back filled with an organic polymer.

Conjugated polymers with thermally cleavable side chains

In collaboration with the group of Dr. Manuel Hamburger, we are investigating the use of the newly synthesised materials in photovoltaic applications. These materials can be easily turned insoluble after processing, which would allow 'freezing' of the morphology in the device active layer.

New acceptor molecules

In collaboration with the group of Prof. Uwe Bunz, we are investigating the use of N-heteroacenes as acceptors in organic photovotaic devices.