Functional Molecular Systems & Lasers

Head of Research: Mª Fátima Raposo

The research activity has been focused on the research of the physical-chemical features of surfaces and interfaces of organic and biologic macromolecules leading to the build-up of self-organized organic molecular structures for the creation of molecular electrical, optical, photonics and sensing devices. The research cover the following aspects:

• Physical-chemical interfacial phenomena at the solid-liquid interface - adsorption from solution, at a solid-liquid interface, theory and modelling;
• The physics of surfaces and interfaces of macromolecules, concerning the mechanisms giving rise to the attainment of super-lattice structure that emphasizes a determined function;
• Characterization of functional proprieties of surfaces and interfaces, its structural relaxation behaviour and relation with interface environment;
• Build-up and characterization of self-organized molecular structures concerning surface morphology, electrical, optical, magnetic functional proprieties and particular sensing capabilities;
• Device production, involving development of dedicated lithography, housing, interfacing and figure of merit evaluation reliability and relaxation behaviour;
• Membrane mimicking and radiation damage on biomimetic membranes.
• Development of dedicated scientific apparatus for in-situ monitoring molecular surfaces and interfaces, namely based on optical spectroscopy, optical birefringence second-harmonic generation, electro-optic effect, piezolelectricity, ellipsometry.