Our Research in Energy Materials

Explore our 4 core areas of expertise

AI-guided Materials Design & Synthesis

Computational materials design and synthesis of novel semiconductor materials

Optical & Electronic Materials Properties

Probing excited state dynamics and charge transport in semiconductors

Materials Structure & Morphology

Resolving materials structures with atomic-resolution electron microscopy and x-ray scattering

Applications of Energy Materials

Converting solar energy into electricity and solar fuels

Photophysics drives renewable energy technologies

At SPECTRE, we study various materials, including organic polymers, small molecules, covalent and metal-organic frameworks, and perovskites. While they differ in structure and chemical nature, many of these materials demonstrate similar exciton and charge carrier generation pathways, as well as loss channels - processes which occur upon light absorption. Ultrafast and steady-state spectroscopic techniques provide us with valuable insight into these mechanisms. That enables us to identify the limitations of various energy conversion systems and move toward new, highly efficient and reliable technologies. Our research brings together diverse fields so everyone can find where they belong.

AI-guided Materials Design & Synthesis

AI-guided Materials Design & Synthesis

Integrating computational property prediction with in-house organic synthesis.

We collaborate closely with research groups doing computational materials design and synthesis of new semiconductor materials. We also synthesize materials in house.

Model-to-Molecule Discovery DFT Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Key questions

  • How do we reliably bridge single-molecule quantum chemical predictions with complex thin-film morphology?
  • Can design algorithms lead to industrially and practically accessible chemical structures?

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Optical & Electronic Materials Properties

Optical & Electronic Materials Properties

Resolving excited state dynamics and photophysical processes across broad time and frequency scales.

We employ a variety of steady-state and advanced time-resolved optical and electro-optical spectroscopies to investigate optical and electronic processes in semiconductors for energy conversion and catalysis.

Transient Absorption Time-resolved photoluminescence TDCF sEQE

Key questions

  • What chemical and photophysical processes drive degradation under light, heat, and in air?
  • How can we disentangle overlapping excited-state absorption signals from various species?

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Materials Structure & Morphology

Materials Structure & Morphology

Correlating local topography with ensemble crystalline structure in organic and perovskite-based thin films.

We investigate the morphology and topography of thin films of energy materials on various length scales using electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction including GIWAXS, and atomic force microscopies.

TEM SEM XRD GIWAXS

Key questions

  • How do molecular packing and morphology affect carrier mobility and recombination?
  • How does the morphology and nanostructure of a photocatalyst influence its activity and selectivity?
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Applications of Energy Materials

Applications of Energy Materials

Applying novel energy materials and device designs in solar cells, solar batteries, and green fuel production.

We apply and characterise energy materials in photovoltaic devices, photocatalytic processes, and photochemical reactions. That includes investigating donor-acceptor systems and their interfaces in solar cells and solar batteries, as well as driving CO₂ conversion into value-added chemicals and H₂ evolution from water. Our independent group leaders advance perovskite solar cell technology funded by ERC Projects (INPERSPACE) and the Emmy Noether Program.

PIA spectroscopy GC-MS Device fabrication
Aydin Group Ugur Research Lab

Key questions

  • What are the key degradation pathways governing long-term operational stability in organic and perovskite-based optoelectronics?
  • What limits charge carrier transfer from the catalytically active site to the reactant?

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Interested in collaborating?

We welcome joint projects, student applications, and shared instrumentation requests.

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