Andreas Steffen

Professor Andreas Steffen leads the Inorganic Chemistry research group at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Technische Universität Dortmund. His laboratory, located in Room C2-07-332 at Otto-Hahn-Str. 6, focuses on advanced photophysical research with applications in quantum information technologies and luminescent materials.

His research interests center on the design and characterization of luminescent coordination compounds, particularly zinc(II), copper(I), and silver(I) complexes. His group investigates photoactive transition metal complexes, stimulus-responsive luminescent materials, and molecular entangled photon sources for quantum applications. Key research areas include TADF emitters, circularly polarized luminescence, and long-lived phosphorescent systems.

Professor Steffen's recent publications reveal a strong focus on zinc-based emitters for quantum IT applications, chiral copper complexes for OLED technology, and smart luminescent materials that respond to environmental stimuli like pressure. His work bridges fundamental photophysical studies with practical applications in next-generation display technologies and quantum information processing.

Among his notable recognitions is the TU Dortmund University's 2021 Teaching Prize, Category 1, which he received jointly with Prof. Sebastian Henke for their innovative digital delivery of the General and Inorganic Chemistry (AC1) lecture during the pandemic. His research has been supported by significant grants from the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Volkswagen Foundation (including an 800,000 euro 'Momentum' grant), and other prestigious funding bodies.

Professor Steffen actively mentors numerous doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, including several supported by scholarships from the German Federal Environmental Foundation and the Hans Boeckler Foundation. His research group maintains state-of-the-art equipment including an FLS1000 spectrometer, FS5 Spectrofluorometer, and a transient absorption spectrometer capable of measurements from 77K to room temperature with picosecond resolution.