Upcoming DISIT Seminars

The investigation into the characteristics of small organic molecules exhibiting circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) has become a dynamic and prominent area of research. This surge in interest is attributed to the manifold potential applications of these chiral compounds in diverse fields such as nanomaterials, optoelectronics, photonic devices, as well as molecular recognition systems and switches. Particularly in the realm of display technology, the utilization of CPL-active fluorophores as emissive dopants in circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs) has recently emerged as a compelling strategy. This approach aims to mitigate the impact of anti-glare filters on brightness, consequently reducing power consumption in such devices.[1]

During this presentation, we will outline our recent endeavors focused on the design and optimization of chiral emitters that amalgamate thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) properties with CPL emission. The discussion will encompass their application as emissive dopants in both bottom and top emission CP-OLED devices.[2-4] In the latter part of the presentation, attention will shift to the development of the first CPL-active molecules based on excited state internal proton transfer (ESIPT) fluorescence.[5] Finally, we will discuss the potential to engineer chiral functional materials through the control of dynamic chirality, shedding light on innovative possibilities in this exciting avenue of research.[6]

References

1. L. Frédéric, A. Desmarchelier, L. Favereau, G. Pieters, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2021, 2010281
2.  S. Feuillastre, M. Pauton, L. Gao, A. Desmarchelier, A. J Riives, D. Prim, D. Tondelier, B. Geffroy, G. Muller, G. Clavier, G. Pieters, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 3990
3.  L. Frédéric, A. Desmarchelier, R. Plais, L. Lavnevich, G. Muller, C. Villafuerte, G. Clavier, E. Quesnel, B. Racine, S. Meunier-Della-Gatta, J.-P. Dognon, P. Thuéry, J. Crassous, L. Favereau, G. Pieters, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2020, 2004838
4.  L. Poulard, S. Kasemthaveechok, M. Coehlo, A. Kumar Ramar, L. Frédéric, P. Sumsalee, T. d’Anfray, S. Wu, J. Wang, T. Matulaitis, J. Crassous, E. Zysman-Colman, L. Favereau, G. Pieters, Chem. Commun. 2022, 6554
5.  M. Coehlo, G. Clavier, G. Pieters, Adv. Optical Mater. 2022, 2101774
6.  Angew. Chem. 2025, e202414490

Disinformation can be very harmful. AI provides us with tools to mitigate these harms, such as methods to detect inauthentic accounts and coordinated information operations. Large language models (LLMs) can also help rate the reliability of information sources and aid in fact-checking tasks. However, attempts to scale up these AI-supported interventions must account for unintended consequences when people interact with AI. In some cases, fact-checking information generated by an LLM can actually decrease news discernment. In the hands of bad actors, AI can become a dangerous weapon. Aside from much-discussed deepfakes, generative AI can be used to easily and cheaply create fake but credible profiles and content at scale. These capabilities enable the infiltration and manipulation of vulnerable online communities. Given the near-impossibility of detecting AI-generated content, research is needed to develop new ways of challenging the provenance of content before wide exposure through distribution channels like social media and search engines.

Scientific integrity has become increasingly important at universities and other academic institutions in recent years. The increasingly intense competition for research funding and positions, and the resulting pressure to publish, have not only led to more frequent and bitter conflicts over authorship, but also to a rise in sensitivity to the negative consequences of scientific misconduct, given the responsibility of scientists for the quality of the knowledge they produce and for the careful use of the resources they are provided by society. Universities and research institutions have responded by issuing guidelines and codes of conduct for scientific integrity and establishing positions promoting compliance with these rules. In this context, I served for five years at ETH Zurich after my retirement as a confi­dential advisor of ETH Zurich in counselling and conflict resolution and as a trusted representative for preliminary investigations in cases of alleged scientific misconduct in research. In this lecture, I will report on the experiences I had in this role.

SEMINAR FLYER