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Project

Characterization and knowledge-driven device application of noble n-type organic semiconductor crystals made of [Li+@C60](PF6-)

Li@C60 is a novel metallofullerene and the first of its kind based on the C60 cage that was purified to a high degree. Previous reports have shown outstanding nonlinear optical (NLO) properties for this material, however the higher purity samples available now allow for more in-depth studies.

The NLO properties of Li@C60 will be studied in two ways: by making thin films using dropcasting and accommodating them into a metal-organic framework (MOF), namely MOF-177.

Preparing thin films of Li@C60 is an alternative to the currently used techniques based in ultra-high vacuum. It is a cost-efficient and easy method and can allow further studies also in related fields. Thin films additionally have the advantage of allowing easy measurements of the NLO properties.

MOFs have been shown to have great potential in the field of NLO, either by emitting NLO phenomena by themselves or accommodating NLO-active guest molecules. So far combined emission of host and guest has however not been shown as well as using the interaction between them for further boosting the NLO properties.

Additionally, the research demonstrates how NLO microscopy can be used to image heterogeneities and defects on the mesoscopic scale in MOFs. This approach requires no labelling unlike fluorescence microscopy and can be done under ambient conditions in contrast to e.g. scanning electron microscopy.

Date:18 Aug 2017 →  26 Aug 2022
Keywords:Fullerene, Endohedral Fullerene, Organic electronics, Nonlinear optics, Metal-organic frameworks, Host-guest interaction
Disciplines:Sustainable chemistry, Physical chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Organic chemistry, Theoretical and computational chemistry, Other chemical sciences
Project type:PhD project