Group of Advanced Materials and Organic Synthesis

The Group of Advanced Materials and Organic Synthesis is focused on the study of synthesis and application of polycyclic aromatic compounds, particularly helicenes and phenacenes. Our aim is to develop new methodologies leading to functionalized helicenes and phenacenes with improved properties, either using our large-scale photochemical reactors or late-stage modification approaches. On top of that, we strive to incorporate these molecules into functional devices ranging from sensors to various optoelectronic elements, such as organic light emmiting diodes (OLEDs), field effect transistors (OFETs) and others.

We are an international group of scientists of different backgrounds and together we make an interdisciplinary team focused on material science and organic chemistry. On top of that, we participate in a number of collaborations with both domestic and international research facilities (Institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences, UCT Prague, CU Prague, UP Olomouc, Uni Heidelberg, Rennes Institute of Chemical Sciences) and industrial collaborations (Immunotech s.r.o, Lach-ner s.r.o., Watrex Prague, s.r.o.).

Sensors

One of our main interests lays in designing active compounds for detection of various analytes. Our materials often exhibit a measurable change in physico-chemical properties upon exposure to detected analyte, which allows us to construct sensors for water, alcohols, various chiral compounds or even biomacromolecules, such as DNA. We can use fluorescence, conductivity or even Raman spectroscopy to serve this purpose.

Chiral plasmonics

Special place in our research of various sensors is reserved for utilization of helicenes in chiral plasmonics. Unlike common detection methods, Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) represents an extremely sensitive method for detection of substrates in very low concentration. Modification of the active surfaces with chiral helicene molecules extends the applicability of this method also to chiral substrates.

Chiral electrodes

Electrochemical transformations of helicenes are not common, yet we managed to utilize the oxidative polymerization of various helicene substrates to modify different electrodes. This method is mild and provides a uniform coating of the electrode’s surface, while maintaining the enantiopurity of the helicene. The result is a chiral electrode suitable for advanced aplications in electrochemical sensing of chiral analytes.

Optoelectronics

The majority of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have the potential to be utilized as active materials in a variety of electronic devices, such as diodes, transistors or solar cells. Our research in this area is focused on design of new derivatives of helicenes and phenacenes and a study of the structure – properties relationship, as well as improving the limiting properties, such as low fluorescence quantum yield, crystal packing or charge mobilities.

Latest publications

GAMOS is a part of the Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, v. v. i.