The aim of the new Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1719, "ChemPrint: Next-Generation Printed Semiconductors: Engineering at the Atomic Level Using Molecular Surface Chemistry” is to develop energy- and resource-efficient semiconductor materials. These materials are used in many everyday and industrial applications, such as smartphones, household appliances, electric cars, and photovoltaics.
The researchers plan to develop printable semiconductor materials using customized chemical synthesis and deposition processes. Unlike the conventional deposition method from the gas phase, this deposition will occur from a liquid solution under mild conditions. This will allow the researchers to transfer the chemical syntheses, which are usually easy to control, to surfaces. Participants will investigate which materials are suitable for these newly developed chemical processes, what defects can be expected in regular structures, how these defects can be minimized, and which properties result from or can be exploited through the presence of defects.
Several research groups from HI ERN are contributing their expertise to ChemPrint: Dr. Ian Marius Peters's team is researching new deposition techniques for selectively coating and removing functional layers in perovskite solar cells. They are also evaluating the economic feasibility. These results will define the requirements for materials and processes in the overall project.
Prof. Jens Harting's department uses computer simulations to investigate the physical processes that enable ideal growth conditions. The goal is to prevent parasitic processes, such as unwanted nucleation, by selecting specific process parameters and solvents. High-resolution phase field simulations will allow to optimize the coating processes.
Prof. Marcus Bär's department, "X-ray Spectroscopy at Thin Film Interfaces," is investigating the growth and properties of defect-tolerant, functional semiconductor materials using state-of-the-art X-ray spectroscopy. They aim to further develop methods of surface and interface research to precisely analyze application-relevant heterostructures and deepen our understanding of chemical composition and electronic structure at the atomic level.
The DFG is funding the new Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1719 "ChemPrint - Printed Semiconductors of the Next Generation: Engineering at the Atomic Level using Molecular Surface Chemistry" at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) from October 2025. The HI ERN is also involved in the SFB with three projects.
The DFG is strengthening top-level university research with 13 new Collaborative Research Centers from October 2025. A total of around 177 million euros will be available for the first funding phase of three years and nine months. CRCs enable interdisciplinary, long-term research collaborations with a duration of up to twelve years. From October 2025, a total of 262 SFBs will be funded.
DFG press release (May 30, 2025; in german)
FAU announcement May 30, 2025
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN)
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH (HZB)
October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2029
The CRC is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
Director and Head of Research Department High Throughput Methods in Photovoltaics
