Seebeck Effect in Langmuir-Blodgett Films

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Martin Presselt
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 551172852

The proposed research project aims to strengthen the collaboration between Korean and German research teams in the field of soft matter thermoelectricity. The project focuses on the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique for the development of organic films in order to tailor the required layers and to better understand their structure-property relationships. Beyond pure research collaboration, our goal is to establish an exchange of scientists at the laboratory level, which will be expanded on the basis of this project. This will advance the fields of interfacial chemistry of organic semiconductors and soft matter thermoelectrics. Molecular thermoelectricity, which focuses on the conversion of heat into electricity at the molecular level, is a young field of research that we want to advance significantly. The Korean team, led by Hyo Jae Yoon from Seoul, has developed an innovative measurement technique based on liquid metal surfaces that allows reliable measurements of the thermoelectric voltage in molecular tunnel junctions. This technique is particularly suitable for physico-organic research and allows detailed studies of how chemical and supramolecular structures in active molecular monolayers are related to thermoelectric functionality in a quantum mechanical regime. This research project tests the hypothesis that unusually high Seebeck coefficients can be achieved by using weakly binding monolayers in the compounds. Martin Presselt and his team from the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology in Jena, Germany, are contributing their expertise in the synthesis of LB films and the investigation of their molecular packing structures. The Korean and German teams will work together to study the thermoelectric effects in LB films. The expected research results include the first elucidation of the thermoelectric effects of LB films and their theoretical description, which will identify important relationships between structure and thermoelectricity. In addition, we expect to achieve exceptionally high Seebeck coefficient values, which are not possible with conventional thiol-based SAMs. In addition to these scientific advances, the cooperation will also promote networking between Korean and German scientists and promote the exchange of research ideas and the development of international networking initiatives between the participating institutions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: South Korea
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Hyo Jae Yoon