[Seminar] "Hydrogen-bonded molecules for bio-organic electronic applications" by Dr. Cigdem Yumusak

Hydrogen bonding is one of the most important supramolecular interactions in nature and serves as a versatile tool for controlling molecular self-assembly. It plays a central role in aqueous and biological systems and connects several classes of materials, including biomolecules, dyes and pigments. The ability of hydrogen bonds to direct molecular assembly while influencing ionic and electronic transport makes hydrogen-bonded materials particularly attractive for sustainable organic electronic applications.

 

The first part of this talk focuses on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as a naturally abundant, renewable, and inherently biodegradable material for bio-organic electronics. DNA-based electronic materials, conducting polymer biocomposites and related device concepts will be presented. These systems combine the functionality of organic semiconductors with biologically derived components and offer attractive routes toward environmentally friendly electronic technologies. Examples include DNA-based organic field effect transistors (OFETs) and other bioelectronic platforms will be discussed, highlighting the interplay between ionic and electronic transport in such materials.

 

The second part of the talk addresses hydrogen-bonded organic pigments, a class of materials traditionally known from the colorant industry but increasingly recognized as highly promising semiconductors. Strong intermolecular hydrogen-bond networks promote ordered molecular packing, exceptional environmental stability, and long operational lifetimes while maintaining favorable electronic properties. Recent developments demonstrate that hydrogen-bonded pigment semiconductors can be used to fabricate electronic devices that are not only biodegradable and potentially bio-derived but can also exhibit functionalities and stability that are difficult to achieve with conventional organic semiconductors.

 

Following the seminar by Dr. Yumusak, two senior Ph.D. students will also present their work in 10-15-minute presentations from around 11:15.