There is a pressing need to reshape the world’s energy economy and to shift to a sustainable, zero-carbon basis within the coming decades. This presents a considerable scientific challenge, but also an extraordinary opportunity. The Optoelectronics Group studies novel classes of organic and hybrid semiconductors that may help to meet it, working to understand their fundamental physics and to translate that understanding into more efficient, affordable and sustainable energy technologies.
The group’s research is organised around a number of interconnected themes. Further detail, together with links to the individual research groups, may be found below.
We study the optoelectronic physics of new soft functional materials, including organic and hybrid organic–inorganic semiconductors, and their use in solar cells and novel concepts for harvesting solar energy. Principal investigators: Richard Friend, Neil Greenham, Akshay Rao, Ibrahim Dar.
We develop and apply time-resolved optical spectroscopy and microscopy techniques that probe the fundamental electronic and ionic processes in novel energy materials with high spatio-temporal resolution, providing insight into devices ranging from photovoltaics to batteries. Principal investigator: Akshay Rao.
Around two thirds of our primary energy is currently wasted as heat. We research new thermoelectric materials and device concepts for converting waste heat into useful electricity, exploiting the distinctive characteristics of organic and hybrid organic–inorganic semiconductors. Principal investigator: Henning Sirringhaus.
We investigate the mechanical properties of organic macromolecular systems using nanoscale metrology and atomic force microscopy, and realise new micro- and nanofabricated resonant devices that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Principal investigator: Deepak Venkateshvaran.
Lighting accounts for a significant share of world electricity consumption, and considerable scope remains to enhance the performance and reduce the cost of light-emitting devices. We explore new organic and hybrid organic–inorganic semiconductors to this end. Principal investigators: Richard Friend, Neil Greenham, Ibrahim Dar.
The group is currently working together on the EPSRC Programme Grant “VET-SOFT”, investigating vibration-enhanced transport in functional materials with soft vibrational dynamics.