Research

1. Charge transport along molecular wires.

The transport of charge along isolated conjugated polymer chains is studied experimentally by a combination of pulse radiolysis and time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements. Additionally, computer simulations study the charge transport. The combination of experimental results and calculations gives a unique insight in charge transport along molecular wires in absence of complications arising through the presence of electrodes. 

2. Charge transfer and molecular electronics.

Molecules in which charge transfer occurs from a donor to an acceptor through an intervening bridge represent interesting model systems for molecular electronics. The study of the properties of such systems can give insight in the fundamentals of charge transfer at a molecular level. These systems are studied using theoretical methods, for instance for charge transfer in DNA and pi-conjugated donor-bridge-acceptor systems. Future work will also include time-resolved laser spectroscopy. Of specific current interest in this field is the study of quantum interference effects in charge transfer. 

3. Properties of electronically excited states excited states.

The properties of excited states in conjugated molecules are of interest since excited states are the key intermediate in light emitting diodes and solar cells. The properties of excited states and their dissociation into charge-pairs are studied theoretically by ab initio electronic structure calculations and by time-resolved spectroscopy. A particular recent interest in this field is the conversion of one singlet excited state into two triplets by singlet exciton fission. 

4. Charge transport in solid conjugated materials

Charge transport in pi-conjugated materials is studied by pulse-radiolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements. Such measurements are performed for materials such as conjugated polymers and oligomers and discotic liquid crystalline materials. Charge transport properties of these materials are also studied theoretically.