Stimuli-responsive materials are materials capable of a specific response to an external stimulus such as changes in temperature, moisture, pH, or electric and magnetic fields by a predictable and controlled change(s) in some of their fundamental properties. Smart materials are poised to emerge from the lab in a wide range of medical, defense, and industrial applications. Understanding and using these advanced materials in your new product development efforts may make the difference between success and failure in today's intensely competitive markets.
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| OLED materials | Nano-Chemistry | Heavy Metal Sensing | Anion Sensors | Sensor Arrays |
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| Sensors for TNT | Semiconductor QDs, Q-rods |
Cross-reactive sensor arrays | Phosphorus heterocycles |
The research in Anzenbacher research group is, in general, focused on the development of advanced photonic materials in two main areas: supramolecular materials for molecular sensing and materials that can be used in organic electronics, e.g. fabrication of flat displays and energy-efficient interior lights, solar cells (photovoltaics) or field-effect transistors (FETs). Specifically, we study supramolecular aspects of heavy metal sensing anion binding and sensing, and use the generated knowledge for the preparation of materials that can be used for for fabrication of fluorescence-based optical sensors, and synthesis of artificial dyes and pigments. Recently, we have started developing sensor chips utilizing conductive polymers and other smart materials capable of signaling the presence of ions by change in color and/or luminescence. The research in the field of optical sensing led us also to synthesize materials that react to the presence of explosives such as TNT. Naturally, we have developed also sensor chip for vapors of explosives. The second important area of our research is devoted to organic electronics materials. We design and synthesis materials (chromophores and charge-transport materials) for use in OLEDs, organic photovoltaics (OPV) and thin-film solar cells. While we are pursuing synthesis and fabrication of OLEDs for application as light sources in solid-state lighting (SSL) and flat displays. These materials are mostly of the small-molecular nature such as organometallic complexes and organic chromophores. For the purpose of solid-state lighting, we are pursuing bright white-light emitting OLEDs (WOLEDs) and OLED architectures that allow fabrication of stable large devices (with 1×1 inch pixels). we also pursue the synthesis of various semiconductor quantum dots/rods for application in solar cells, chromophores, fluorophores and dyes, mostly for organic electroluminescence and sensor applications, but also to enhance our understanding of photonic materials design. Many of these effeorts are collaborative. We have been blessed with a number of collaborations with other scientists; Together we are capable of increasing the footprint of our research and increase our knowledge.
As a departing platform for our research we utilize methods of organic and organometallic synthesis to prepare new photonic materials. We use methods of molecular spectroscopy to investigate the properties of prepared compounds and materials (NMR, MS and IR spectroscopy). We also use methods of optical spectroscopy (both steady state and time-resolved, absorption and fluorescence/luminescence) as well as optical microscopy to investigate the materials but also induce or observe chemical and photophysical changes in the investigated materials. Lately, we added a number of fabrication methods and methods of investigating organic semiconductors.
