Hosted by David Amabilino, the Workshop was a huge success, with a full ICMAB Carles Miravitlles Seminar Hall.

The day started with a talk by Professor Matthew Fuchter, of Imperial College London, in the UK, on chiral molecular materials in optoelectronic applications. This was followed Professor Núria Aliaga (ICREA, ICMAB-CSIC), who presented micropatterned optical sensors, and our own Caixa Junior Leader, Doctor Pankaj Bharmoria who showed triplet sensitized switching of molecules. After the coffee break, was the turn of Doctor Mar Álvarez (IMB-CNM-CSIC) who showed how microfabrication could be used to prepare photoresponsive cantilevers with photoswitches actuating the movement, Professor Lluïsa Pérez Garcia of the Universitat de Barcelona who presented nanostructured materials for photodynamic therapy and, to end the day, Professor Grace Han of Brandeis University in the US who presented her work on energy storage in photoswitchable materials.

David Amabilino said: “I really appreciate the great contributions from all the speakers and all the attendees for the excellent questions. The presentations really showed the diversity and appeal of molecular materials in light-instigated effects, for energy, electronics and health. The interest in the talks was shown in the lively discussions, that have certainly identified some exciting possibilities for future research. I’d also like to the Generalitat de Catalunya for support for our activities in this area through the group focusing on Photo- and electro-responsive micro-and nano-structured functional materials (PERMINAMAT).”

Abstract of the workshop:

A meeting that explores the latest advances in the use of molecular materials in a range of applications where light is used to provide function to the systems, be it optoelectronic, mechanical, for energy storage, or medicinal, through talks from experts in all of these areas, and with ample time for discussion.