Michael R. A. Giese

Prof. Dr. Michael R. A. Giese serves as Heisenberg-Professor for Supramolecular Materials at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen. He established the Giese Lab in June 2014, focusing on synthesis and analysis of supramolecular functional aggregates with liquid crystalline properties. His research aims to develop novel supramolecular liquid crystals for applications in optical and electronic devices including organic solar cells and OLEDs.

The Giese Lab specializes in supramolecular materials with emphasis on liquid crystals, polymers, and hybrid systems. Their modular supramolecular approach combines hydrogen-bond donors with various acceptors to create functional assemblies. Key research areas include fluorescent materials with aggregation-induced emission properties, photoresponsive systems based on azobenzene derivatives, photonic sensing using chiral-nematic mesophases, dual-pH responsive supramolecular gels, and hybrid materials combining liquid crystals with mesoporous silica films. All research directions center on controlling molecular self-assembly for applications in optoelectronics, sensing, and photonics.

Publication trends from 2015-2020 reveal progression from fundamental molecular self-assembly studies toward sophisticated photonic applications. A significant theme is integration of multiple functionalities—particularly liquid crystallinity with fluorescence through aggregation-induced emission. The group has developed innovative multi-stimuli responsive materials reacting to light, temperature, pH, and chemical analytes. Recent work increasingly bridges molecular design with practical applications, especially in hybrid organic-inorganic photonic materials where liquid crystals infiltrate nanostructured silica to create tunable optical systems.

Scientific Recognition:

• Heisenberg Professorship from German Research Foundation (DFG)
• Hot Article designation in Journal of Materials Chemistry C (2015)

Prof. Giese actively supervises graduate students, with recent completions including Felix Kraus (PhD on supramolecular Blue Phase liquid crystals stabilization), Meik Blanke (PhD), Dennis (PhD), and Master's students Jana, Søren, and Dragan. The lab welcomes Bachelor's/Master's students, PhD candidates, and postdocs, assisting qualified applicants with scholarship applications. International collaborations include research exchanges with the University of Belgrade (Serbia) and ongoing partnerships with Prof. J. Voskuhl and Prof. M. J. MacLachlan. The group participates in the German Liquid Crystal Conference (GLCC) and contributes to the university's Co-Creation Lab Produktinnovationen.