Zhen Liu

Zhen Liu is a researcher in the Materials and Chemistry department at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), specializing in organic electronics and photodetector materials. Having completed their PhD in 2023, they continue active research in polymer-fullerene systems with a focus on PBTTT derivatives and near-infrared applications.

Research interests center on organic photodetectors, polymer-fullerene interactions, and phase behavior of conjugated systems. Their work investigates how chemical precision affects material properties, particularly examining homocoupling defects in polymers and their impact on co-crystal formation with fullerenes.

Recent publications reveal a strong focus on near-infrared photodetection technologies, with innovative approaches to donor-acceptor material combinations. The research demonstrates particular expertise in state diagram analysis of polymer:fullerene blends and the development of ladder-type donor polymers for enhanced performance.

Liu has participated in significant research activities including the FWOAL869 project (2018-2021) on solution-processed organic photodetectors, presenting findings at major conferences including the European Polymer Congress (2022) and the International Congress on Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (2021).