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Project “Photoswitchable Covalent Organic Frameworks for Controlled Charge Transport” (June 2026 – May 2028) more

In a recent article published in Nature Communications, researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics and TU Dresden reported an ultrathin staggered viologen-incorporated two-dimensional polymer membrane for efficient osmotic energy harvesting. By engineering ABC interlayer stacking, the membrane forms ultranarrow triangular nanochannels with enhanced electric double-layer coverage, enabling highly selective anion transport and high-power output under salinity gradients. more

In a recent article published in Nature Chemistry, an international team of researchers successfully applied cyclophane chemistry, for the first time, to graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) system. Their study demonstrates that this cyclophane-based shielding strategy not only sterically shields the π-conjugated surface of GNR but also imparts internal strain, enabling singly dispersed GNRs while simultaneously modulating their optoelectronic properties, thereby providing a generalizable strategy for engineering solution-processable GNRs compatible with quantum device applications. more

Dr. Li’s research focuses on the rational design, synthesis, and advanced characterization of two-dimensional materials for energy conversion, with particular emphasis on the photo- and electrocatalytic activation of small molecules. His Marie Skłodowska-Curie project aims to develop an on-water surface photocatalysis strategy for converting CO₂ and H₂O into value-added solar fuels under mild conditions. more

On March 23–24, 2026, the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics hosted the 4^th Advances in Precision Carbon Nanostructures (PCNano) Mini-Workshop, organized within the Synthetic Materials and Functional Devices (SMFD) Department, bringing together leading international researchers in the field of carbon-based nanoscience. more