Research activities
The research activities of the Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials at the University of Mons/Materia Nova aim at:
Studying the morphological, electronic, optical, and transport properties of organic (semi)conducting materials in thin films;
Determining the chemical nature, the structure, and the electronic properties of organic/organic and organic/inorganic interfaces;
Understanding the self-assembly of functional (macro)molecules at surfaces
Designing novel supramolecular materials that combine biomolecules (nucleic acids or proteins) and (macro)molecular compounds with specific electronic and optical properties.
This is achieved through a joint theoretical – experimental approach in which:
- the multiscale modeling of materials and opto-electronic processes
- the synthesis, modeling and characterization of bio-inspired supramolecular assemblies
- the thin film deposition and characterization
- the device fabrication activities
are carried out in Mons, in close collaboration with groups of organic/polymer chemists, theoretical chemists, spectroscopists, materials scientists, and device physicists located in Belgium, in Europe, in the US and in Asia. Among those collaborations, a particularly vivid interaction is pursued with Jean-Luc Brédas’ research group at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Within the University of Mons, the Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials is a founding member of the Center for Innovation and Research in MAterials and Polymers (CIRMAP). The activities of CIRMAP comprise the modeling, the controled synthesis, the characterization (structural, morphological and physico-chemical properties), the thin film patterning, and finally the processing of organic and polymer-based materials. The research staff of CIRMAP is around 120.
The Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials is also a founding member of the Materia Nova Research Center established in Mons in 2000. The major goal of Materia Nova is to extend the research activities of its academic affiliates towards industrial applications. This implies very active collaborations with local and international companies in the fields of chemistry, materials, and energy. About 70 researchers are currently employed at Materia Nova.
Multiscale modeling of materials and processes for organic electronics
- Materials design and modeling
- Modeling energy and charge transport
- Modeling interface processes
- Transport in molecular junctions
Joint experimental/modeling studies of supramolecular assembly in organic thin films