Gert-Jan Wetzelaer

Dr. Gert-Jan Wetzelaer serves as a Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, a position he has held since 2015. His research focuses on advancing the fundamental understanding and performance of organic and perovskite-based optoelectronic devices.

His academic background includes:

• MSc in Applied Physics from the University of Groningen (2009)
• PhD from the University of Groningen (2014) with highest distinction under Prof. Paul WM Blom

Dr. Wetzelaer's research centers on charge injection, transport, and recombination mechanisms in organic and hybrid semiconductors. His group employs combined experimental and theoretical approaches to optimize device physics for organic light-emitting diodes, organic solar cells, and perovskite photovoltaics. Key objectives include enhancing efficiency and stability through novel materials development and device architecture innovations, with particular emphasis on overcoming fundamental limitations in charge carrier dynamics.

Analysis of his 2015-2019 publications reveals consistent focus on critical bottlenecks in organic and perovskite optoelectronics. His work establishes foundational principles for trap-free charge transport, develops universal strategies for Ohmic contact formation, and elucidates non-radiative recombination pathways in emerging photovoltaic materials. These contributions bridge semiconductor physics with practical device engineering to address industry-relevant stability and efficiency challenges.

As principal investigator of his research group at the Max Planck Institute, Dr. Wetzelaer leads experimental and theoretical investigations into next-generation optoelectronic materials and devices, maintaining active collaborations within the international semiconductor research community.