Science in the Faculty of Chemistry

Participation in research consortia facilitates the advancement of science. BIOSTRATEG – a strategic research and development programme - is among the most important of these. The project is expected to result in a system of biomass waste conversion to enable breaking it down into valuable bioproducts and chemical compounds of the 'green chemicals' group that have a large marketing potential. 

The Faculty's scientists are beneficiaries of research and science funding schemes run by the National Science Centre, the National Centre for Research and Development, and the European Commission under its framework programmes. These grants primarily focus on drug synthesis and interactions, nanomaterials of well-defined size and structure designed for special applications, biodegradable polymer implants, and drug delivery systems for therapy of various medical conditions. 

Another prestigious grant from the TANGO2 programme has allowed the Faculty's scientists to work on a production technology for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Advanced level of research and modern research apparatus ensure the organization's participation in European projects (Polynet, Flexnet, ECNP, Excilight). Apart from scientific research as such, the Faculty's academic staff carry out numerous projects in cooperation with industry. Frequently, students and doctoral students are engaged in these projects, which allows them to pursue their scientific interests. The Faculty has the only one in Poland radiation chamber for radiation sterilization and/or disinfection of final and intermediate products. The machine is used by pharmaceutical, cosmetics, veterinary, and medical industries (implants, vascular prostheses, tissue grafts, and wound care dressing materials).

Donor-Acceptor light emitting exciplexes as materials for easily to tailor ultra-efficient OLED lighting - 

Artificial lighting is a global and growing industry. New forms of efficient solid state lighting (SSL) in particular are rapidly gaining a market share. New OLED technologies (Organic Light Emitting Diode) can revolutionise this industry as they have done in displays because of their potential flexible structure, infinite tailoring of their properties, efficiency and high colour quality. Industrial forecasts predict that the OLED lighting market will grow from $200 million in 2015 to $1.7 billion by 2020. In order to fully benefit from this huge market potential, Europe`s academia and industry are eager to develop new technologies and recruit highly qualified staff.

The high demand for OLED SSL lighting however will place drastic demands on the use of very expensive and rare iridium. EXCILIGHT aims to explore exciplex emitters and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) in OLEDs that will enable us to replace Ir complexes whilst retaining ultrahigh efficiency and giving many new possibilities to simplify OLED design, helping to reduce costs and increase yields of production.

The network will train 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in the development and application of exciplex and TADF emitters, who can apply their expertise directly in future positions. EXCILIGHT is characterised by an innovative multidisciplinary approach, based on i) a combination of synthesis, physical characterisation and development of devices with the lighting industry, ii) an appropriate balance between research and transferable skills training, and iii) a strong contribution from the private sector, including leading industry and SMEs, through mentoring, courses and secondments.

EXCILIGHT will positively impact the employability of its ESRs in the OLED industry through scientific and industrial training at the local and network level. With this approach we aim to train a new generation of scientists at the same time as integrating this exciting new technology into industry.

1. with research partners:

• national:
• Medical University of Lublin,
• the University of Silesia in Katowice,
• AGH Institute of Chemistry in Cracow,
• AGH Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics,
• the Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Łódź,
• Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics in Cracow,
• Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology in Warsaw,
• Institute of Electronic Materials Technology in Warsaw,
• Institute for Engineering of Polymer Materials and Dyes,
• Gdańsk University of Technology Faculty of Chemistry,
• Military University of Technology Faculty of Advanced Technologies and Chemistry, 
• Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Zabrze;

• international:
• Pierre and Marie Curie University Laboratoire de Reactivite de Surface, France;
• University of Twente, the Netherlands; 
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA;
• Carnegie Mellon University Department of Chemistry, USA;
• University Jaume I, Spain;
•  Geological Survey of Israel, Israel;
• International Atomic Energy Agency, Austria;

2.  with business partners:

• national:
• ANWIL,
• LUBAWA,
• Polpharma,
• Synthos,
• Qwerty;

• international:
• Goodyear Innovation Center, Luxembourg;
• Deutsches Institute für Kautschuktechnologie, Germany;
• CEMEX,
• ABB,
• Merck,
• ACS Rubber Division, USA.

TUL scientists’ blog:

• Green polymers and their role in the life of a human.

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90-924 Lodz Poland

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