98676 - PHOTOACTIVE MATERIALS FOR ENERGY CONVERSION

Academic Year 2025/2026

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Photochemistry and Molecular Materials (cod. 6753)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has acquired knowledge and skills necessary to design, characterize, and critically analyze photoactive materials for various energy conversion applications, including lighting (LEDs and OLEDs), solar energy conversion and storage, and photocatalysis.

Course contents

Brief account on supramolecular photochemistry and analysis of some complex systems (quantum dots, metal nanoparticles, organic nanostructures, organic frameworks, organic semiconductors, heterostructures, hybrid materials): from design to application.

Introduction of the principal photophysical methods with nanometrical resolution and their applications: Fluorescence Microscopy; Multiphoton Excitation and Microscopy; Fluorescence sensing; Fluorescence-Lifetime Imaging Microscopy; Single-Molecule detection; Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy; Super-resolution microscopy.

Overview, from history to state of the art, on the applications of photochemistry in energy conversion:

  • Light emitting diodes (LED, OLED, WOLED, ...)
  • Solar energy conversion (water splitting, CO2 reduction, solar fuels, photodegradation)
  • Applications of UV-Vis and solar light in organic synthesis

Technical and experimental consideration (sources, setup, photoreactors, flow)

Discussion on future advances.

Readings/Bibliography

- V. Balzani, A. Credi, M. Venturi: Molecular Devices and Machines. Concepts and Perspectives for the Nanoworld, 2° edizione, Wiley-VCH, 2008

- J. Zhong Zhang: Optical Properties and Spectroscopy of Nanomaterials, World Scientific, 2009

- J. R. Lakowicz, Principles of Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Springer, New York, 2006

- V. Balzani, P. Ceroni, A. Juris, Photochemistry and Photophysics: Concepts, Research, Applications, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2014.

Teaching methods

Class lessons and seminars

Assessment methods

The final exam aims to verify the knowledge and the competences and will be an oral test. In the judgement the exposition of the scientific paper and research will be considered.

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Dashboard, PC, Power Point slides, scientific papers

Office hours

See the website of Giacomo Bergamini

SDGs

Affordable and clean energy Sustainable cities Climate Action

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.