A selection of our research areas are given below:
Organic Lasers: Our group is recognised as one of the premier organic laser groups in the world, making cutting-edge advances in the field. Our work includes developing new laser materials, understanding and improving laser operation, demonstrating new effects such as all-optical switching and sensing, and the study of organic optical amplifiers.
Organic Light Emitting Diodes: Our group has played a key role in the invention of new materials and device structures for OLEDs. These advances were built on our research understanding materials and devices in which we combine measurements of photophysics, device operation and charge transport to develop a detailed picture of the factors influencing device efficiency. This led us to the development (with Prof. Burn) of light-emitting dendrimers as a new class of organic semiconductor giving the world's most efficient solution-processable OLED.
Organic Solar Cells: As well as turning electricity into light, organic semiconductors can do the opposite, providing a potential route to low-cost solar cells. Our group studies the properties and operation organic solar cell materials and devices. We have developed innovative measurements of exciton diffusion, a key step in the operation of an organic solar cell.
Photophysics of Organic Semiconductors: The light emitted by our materials is not only useful, but also provides a window through which to study their physics. It enables us to explore the fascinating world of how the nanostructure of our materials controls their properties - such as efficiency and colour of light-emission. We have remarkable laser-based tools to study light emission from polymers, dendrimers and molecular materials on timescales from femtoseconds to microseconds.
Biophotonics: There are many connections between our work and problems in biology and medicine. Our materials are closely related to naturally occurring molecules such as carotenes and retinal (for vision). We have used our fluorescence expertise to make quantitative measurements of protein interactions, and fabrication techniques such as soft lithography that we have developed for polymers are also suitable for biological samples. We work with members of the biophotonics collaboration. Light is used in the treatment of many diseases. In collaboration with Prof Ferguson at Ninewells Hospital, we have developed and tested a revolutionary new approach to skin cancer treatment using OLEDs as a wearable light source (pictured).
