The research programme of our group is devoted to functional dyes and the development of methodologies for the self-assembly of pi-conjugated molecules into nanoscale and condensed phase materials for highly desirable (opto-)electronic, photovoltaic and biomedical applications.

Since more than a decade, our group has been intensively investigating the organization of various classes of dyes, including merocyanines, chlorins, and perylene bisimides by non-covalent forces into desirable nanoscale architectures as well as liquid-crystalline and crystalline solid state materials. Our efforts resulted in unique smart electronic and photofunctional materials based on self-assembled dyes that could be embedded in technical devices like organic field effect transistors and organic solar cells (see Research Highlights).

Based on the expertise that we have acquired during more than a decade, our current activities are focused on the following contemporary research topics:

  • Supramolecular Synthesis: Exploration of physico-chemical principles for the construction of highly defined dye assemblies and elucidation of structure-property relationships by means of structural (NMR, MS, AFM, STM, REM, XRD) and electronic/optical (UV/Vis/NIR absorption, CD, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry) characterization techniques.
  • Photofunctional Dye Assemblies: Construction of molecular assemblies composed of dyes and metal centers and investigation of their light harvesting and photocatalytic properties.
  • Nano and Solid State Chemistry: Engineering of functional nanostructures and complex solid state and thin film materials, including thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals.
  • Organic Electronics & Photovoltaics: Synthesis of new organic semiconductor molecules and preparation and characterization of organic transistor devices and solar cells based on such molecular semiconductors.
  • Nanosystems for Biomedicine: Preparation of functional nanosystems and investigation of their interactions with biomacromolecules and biological surfaces.

In the framework of numerous national and international research programmes and collaborative projects with academic partners and industry, we aim towards applications of our materials in emerging technologies.