Course content

Advanced organic optoelectronic materials focuses on the structure-property relationships of some of the most identifiable different classes of materials that give them these properties that make them ideal candidates for optoelectronic applications such as chemical sensors, molecular switches and machines, next-generation batteries, organic solar cells or artificial intelligence. Through the lens of organic chemistry the course will attempt to elucidate the various techniques by which a synthetic chemist can enrich the properties and maximize their potential and furthermore, on how chemical functionalization paves the way for their successful integration into applications The subject will first focus on the main different classes of organic electronic materials, namely conjugated polymers, small molecule semiconductors and carbon nanostructured materials (fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene).

Then various structure-property relationships will be analyzed towards various next-generation applications (i.e. nanomedicine, solar cells, batteries etc.) in order to facilitate understanding of operating principles and their link to the material properties.

Main concepts and fundamental material physics will be explained, along with key-strategies for their synthesis. The main focus will be on the wide variety of different functionalization routes that affect the properties of the resulting material. Various synthetic strategies employing "green chemistry for sustainable synthetic approaches will be analyzed.

The attempted structure-property relationship will allow for a more informed decision on the synthesized molecule relative to the targeted application. Special attention will be given on the different characterization methods that exist in order to analyze these different material properties. (e.g. Steady State and Time-resolved Optical Spectroscopies, Electrochemistry, SEM, AFM)

Keywords: Semiconducting polymers, Fullerenes, Carbon Nanotubes, Graphene, Chemical Tailoring, Organic Solar Cells, Organic LEDs, Batteries, Fuel Cells, Nanomedicine.

Lectures take place every two years (2020-2022-2024 etc) unless there is an increased number of students

Learning outcome

After completing the course the student can exhibit competence in the following traits

Knowledge:

(i) Can demonstrate understanding of the various key classes of organic optoelectronics, their basic synthetic strategies as well as identify their fundamental advantages and disadvantages.

(ii) Is able to propose an appropriate characterization technique in order to characterize a specific property relating to the material and the targeted application.

Skills:

(i) Can demonstrate ability to plan synthetic strategies at an advanced level in order to synthesize organic optoelectronic materials.

(ii) Is able to propose different functionalization routes in order to enrich the properties of the material through rational understanding of structure-property relationships

(iii) Can employ synthetic strategies that include sustainable techniques such as "green chemistry"

General competence:

(i) Can demonstrate ability to perform research and literature survey at a high level.

(ii) Has knowledge of an enabling technology meeting the needs of society, in the field of organic electronics and nanotechnology.

(iii) Has the ability to combine knowledge from different scientific disciplines to design a material for a specific optoelectronic application.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures (4hours) Exercises and activities will take place throughout the course.

Expected work load in the course is 150-200 hours

Recommended previous knowledge

Background in organic chemistry; TKJ4111/TKJ4150, TKJ4135/TKJ4150 and TKJ4180 Physical organic chemistry or comparable courses.

Required previous knowledge

Background in organic chemistry or material science.

Course materials

Suggested literature:

Wenping Hu , Organic Optoelectronics, 2013, Wiley-VCH;

Nikos Tagmatarchis, Advances in Carbon Nanomaterials: Science and Applications 1st Ed. 2012, CRC Press-Taylor and Francis