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RESEARCH GROUPS

Sustainable Molecular Systems (SUSMOSYS)

Sustainable molecular materials for solar energy harvesting, molecular photoswitching, heat storage and energy conversion.

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Molecular systems for sustainable solar energy conversion

The Sustainable Molecular Systems Laboratory (SUSMOSYS) prepares and studies molecular materials capable of capturing sunlight and converting it into useful energy.

The group develops chiral molecular materials for solar energy devices, photoswitchable materials for heat storage and molecular systems able to transfer stored solar energy into electrical power.

Its research connects molecular design, supramolecular organisation, thin-film behaviour, circular dichroism, sustainable media and microelectromechanical energy conversion within the ICMAB materials science ecosystem.

Research challenges

SUSMOSYS addresses how molecular systems can capture, store and transform solar energy through sustainable materials and device-oriented architectures.

Solar energy harvesting

Preparation of molecular materials designed to capture sunlight and contribute to solar energy conversion devices.

Chiral molecular organisation

Understanding how chiral molecules organise in films, including approaches based on synchrotron circular dichroism.

Photoswitchable heat storage

Development of metastable molecular systems able to store solar energy as heat and release it under controlled conditions.

Solar-to-electrical conversion

Integration of molecular photoswitches with thermoelectric generators and microelectromechanical platforms.

Main research areas

The group combines molecular design, sustainable materials processing and advanced characterization to explore new approaches to solar energy storage and conversion.

Chiral molecular materials

Design and preparation of chiral molecular materials for incorporation into solar energy capturing devices, especially bulk heterojunction solar cells.
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Synchrotron circular dichroism

Use of synchrotron-based circular dichroism to investigate the organisation of molecules in thin films beyond surface-only characterization.
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Photoswitchable energy storage

Photoswitchable materials that store heat in metastable forms, using triplet energy sensitization to control the switching process.
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Bioplastics and sustainable media

Use of bioplastics as sustainable media to improve controllability and environmental responsibility in molecular switching systems.
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Thermoelectric conversion

Conversion of stored solar heat into electrical power using thermoelectric generators and molecular photoswitch architectures.
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Microelectromechanical platforms

Implementation of molecular photoswitches in microelectromechanical chips for solar-to-electrical power conversion without geographical restrictions.
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Materials, methods and scientific approach

SUSMOSYS works at the interface of molecular chemistry, materials science and sustainable energy. The group studies how molecular structure, chirality, thin-film organisation and switching mechanisms determine the performance of materials for solar energy capture, heat storage and electrical conversion.

The approach combines molecular preparation, film studies, synchrotron characterization, photoswitching control, sustainable polymeric media and device-oriented integration.

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Molecular materials preparation

Preparation of functional molecular systems designed for light capture, switching and energy storage.

Thin-film organisation

Study of molecular arrangement in films, where conventional surface and bulk techniques can be insufficient.

Circular dichroism characterization

Advanced use of synchrotron-based circular dichroism to observe molecular organisation in functional films.

Device-oriented integration

Integration of molecular photoswitches with thermoelectric generators and microscale platforms.

Applications and scientific impact

SUSMOSYS contributes to sustainable energy research by developing molecular systems that transform sunlight into usable energy pathways.

Solar cells

Molecular materials for incorporation into bulk heterojunction solar cells and solar energy capturing devices.

Molecular solar thermal systems

Photoswitchable materials storing solar energy as heat in metastable molecular states.

Sustainable energy storage

Use of bioplastics and sustainable media to improve controllability and environmental compatibility.

Electrical power generation

Thermoelectric conversion of stored solar energy into electrical power using microelectromechanical chips.

People

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Permanent Scientific Researchers

Postdoctoral & Project Researchers

Connected to the ICMAB research ecosystem

SUSMOSYS contributes to ICMAB’s advanced materials research ecosystem through sustainable molecular materials, solar energy conversion and molecular energy storage.

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SUSMOSYS connects naturally with molecular and sustainable materials for energy conversion and storage.
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Contact and group information

For more information about SUSMOSYS research activity, collaborations and opportunities, contact the group through the corresponding ICMAB channels.

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Sustainable Molecular Systems

Molecular systems for solar energy harvesting, chiral materials, photoswitchable heat storage, thermoelectric conversion and sustainable energy technologies.