Objectives

NANOMATCH is an interdisciplinary and intersectorial research and training network in the emerging field of nanoscience and -technology. The project aims at the development of tailored photo- and electro-responsive organic/ inorganic hybrid systems such as photovoltaic cells, LEDs, and electro-optic modulators, by combining the advantages of organic and inorganic materials. Widespread application of polymeric materials is mainly restricted by their limited chemical stability and lack of control of (inter-) molecular order. In our approach, these limitations are overcome by hierarchical organization of matter at different scales. A. Molecular control is attained by the 'oligomer approach', to tailor the molecules to specific applications such as 'stopcock' and anchor molecules, color-tuning, high PL and NLO efficiencies, as well as energy (ET), electron (eT) and proton transfer properties. B. Control at the nanoscale is achieved by the supramolecular concept of host-guest compounds, with active molecules encapsulated in (in-)organic hosts, to obtain chemical stability, intrinsic polarization, enhanced lasing-, PL-, NLO-, ET- and eT efficiencies, as well as energy funneling. C. Control at the microscale is fulfilled by matching the nanostructured microscopic objects to the 'outside world', through self-assembly, deposition on patterned surfaces, (non-)covalently binding via the 'stopcock principle', inkjet printing, and homogeneous dispersion in polymers. The control of order in this approach opens new possibilities in device technologies, but also deepens the understanding of elementary processes such as energy- and electron transfer in 3-dimensional molecular arrangements and at the organic/inorganic interface.

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