The Voskuhl group

The Voskuhl group, established in autumn 2015 at the University of Duisburg-Essen, is interested in luminescence phenomena. The research focus, in this regards, lays on the investigation of novel emitters for materials science as well as biomedical imaging. Here the influence of aggregation phenomena on the photophysical properties plays a crucial role and is investigated in detail. To this end, the research of the Voskuhl group can be regarded as interdisciplinary, working between different disciplines such as organic chemistry, physics, medicine, biology as well as materials science.

Potential topics for bachelor (BA) and master (MA) theses

If you are interested in one of the following topics, please contact Jens Voskuhl.

1.  Novel luminophores based on rigidified rotors (BA)

2.  Phosphorescent materials obtained by photocyclisations (BA)

Topics for PhD theses

Currently there are no open PhD positions available. If you qualify for external funding via a scholarship, please contact Jens Voskuhl.

Postdoctoral positions

Currently there are no open PostDoc positions available. If you qualify for external funding via a scholarship (e.g. Humboldt, Marie Curie…), please contact Jens Voskuhl.

News

12th November 2024 Nanotour 2024

Jens gave a keynote lecture of our work in the field of photoresponsive luminophores at the University of Münster in the framework of the Nanotour 2024. He was invited by the groups of Prof. Bart Jan Ravoo, Prof. Frank Glorius and Lobel laureate Prof. Ben L. Feringa (Groningen - NL) - what an honor.

4th November 2024 New Research Students

Jana and Ben started their "Vertiefungspraktikum" in our group - all the best and good luck for the upcoming months!

23rd October 2024 New Quantum Yield Spectrometer

We are pleased that a new piece of equipment has just arrived in our labs: a Quantaurus-QY spectrometer by Hamamatsu. This vital instrument lets us measure photoluminescence quantum yields in solid-state and solution at room temperature or 77 K. 

1st October 2024 New Master's Student

After her Vertiefung in our group, Mandy decided to continue working with us for her Master's thesis. We wish her all the best!

18th-20th September 2024 SupraSys Workshop in Goa

Together with several colleagues from Germany, Jens took part in the Indo-German Workshop on Supramolecular Systems (SupraSys) in Goa, India. This event will strengthen collaborations and knowledge transfer between scientists in both countries. Cheers to India!

6th September 2024 Kevin's Defense

Kevin absolved his defense with an excellent presentation and a cheerful celebration afterwards. Congratulations on the well-deserved title!

28th August 2024 New Publication in Angewandte Chemie

© 2024 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie - A Journal of the German Chemical Society

We recently discovered a photoinduced cyclization of thioethers, which can be induced in materials to generate phosphorescent motifs. Together with the groups of Strassert and Haberhauer as well as support from the Co-Creation Lab Product Innovations, we published the results in Angewandte Chemie. Congratulations to everybody involved!

Link to Publication

5th-6th August 2024 Presentation at AIE6

Jens was invited to the 6th International Conference on Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE6) in Boston. As a plenary speaker, he presented our group's progress and met the leading experts on aggregation-induced emission. What an honour!  

29th July 2024 Two New Trainees

As time ran fast, Katrin finished her year of training in our group. While we wish her all the best, we welcome two new faces: Ayliz and Diana are joining our group for their second year of training. Welcome here!

26th July 2024 Merging GCP with a Switchable Luminophore

© 2024 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH

During Jan's doctoral studies, he merged the supramolecular GCP binding motif with the photoswitchable cyanostilbene unit to obtain luminescent ligands for bioimaging. The results were just published in Chem. Eur. J. Nice work!

Link to Publication