Many dyes in nature, for example 尾-carotene in carrots or chlorophyll in leaves, are very colorful substances because their chemical design contains alternating single and double bonds. In conjugated polymers, this single-double bond pattern is used to take advantage of the interaction that these materials have with photons and electrons. This feature enables their use in technological applications such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes, transistors, and batteries.
Because conjugated polymers are synthetic materials, their chemical design and therefore any material property can be infinitely tailored, including their interactions with foreign materials. Our research is very curiosity-driven, where we want to combine green synthesis of conjugated polymers together with stimuli-responsive designs to investigate complex electro- and photoactive hybrid materials.
Conjugated polymer Chemistry
We develop green chemistry & chemical functionalization of conjugated polymers and explore stimuli-responsive hybrid materials.
Research
Functionalized Conjugated Polymers
One part of our research investigates how the incorporation of functional groups into conjugated polymers can be used to tailor their interactions with external stimuli, foreign materials, and biological systems.
Many materials in nature have a chemical design that make them water-soluble, water-compatible or water is an integral part of their structure. Water is also the most benign solvent for material processing, but ideally this behavior can be switched on or off to result in materials that are resistant after processing or result in material recovery for separation of waste streams at end of life. That this is not something trivial we have shown in our recent work, where in particular the presence of oxygen result in the formation of hydrogen peroxide or other ROS, which can either be a desired or unwanted result! One example is the material that we call PCAT-K, a water-soluble conjugated polymer that can be reversibly crosslinked with benign acid-base chemistry.
The work on PCAT-K has laid a firm fundament for our research, where we now study incorporation of different functional groups on the water-processability as well as the degradation and peroxide formation when these materials are exposed to an oxygenated, aqueous environment. Two researchers in the group, Ludivine (KAW postdoc scholar) and Asaminew (WWSC PhD) are designing and synthesizing these conjugated polymers and exploring these materials in cellulose hybrid materials. Cecilia, a postdoc in the group, studies the interaction of these materials with oxygen.
Representative publications听
Green Chemistry of Conjugated Polymers
Another part of our research focuses on developing green synthesis of conjugated polymers by exploring bio-based building blocks and enzyme catalyzed functional group transformations.
While some efforts have recently been made to use renewable synthons to synthesize CP鈥檚, they typically focus on 6-membered ring heterocycles that result in CP鈥檚 with poor electrical properties. Instead, we use a retrosynthetic approach to select appropriate renewable synthons that target conjugated polymers designs based on 5-membered ring heterocycles. The goal is to create a library of renewable synthons that yield green conjugated monomer/polymer designs and investigate their opto-electronic properties. This project is explored by Rio and funded by WWSC.
Enzyme catalysis in conjugated monomer synthesis
Enzymes are nature鈥檚 incredibly efficient catalysts that have many unexpected catalytic functions, with the potential to create green(er) synthetic routes for conjugated monomers and polymers. We are investigating enzyme catalysis for the synthesis of aromatic monomers and perform further functional group modifications on these monomers with enzymes. The goal is to create an enzyme catalysis toolbox that can be used for conjugated monomer synthesis. This project is explored by Aatika and funded by FORMAS.
Representative publications: This is a new research direction in the Conjugated Polymer Chemistry group, so stay tuned for published work.
Synthesis of conjugated polymers at ambient conditions
Despite their myriad applications in the energy transition, conjugated polymers are often synthesized through processes that have a high environmental impact. We are working towards a conjugated polymer pipeline that is safer, less energy intensive, and generally easier (they are usually quite tricky!). This is done through i) computational screening of the polymerization mechanism, ii) synthesis of novel organometallic catalysts to accommodate for the mechanism under ambient conditions, and iii) the implementation of this system for in-water polymerizations. This project is independently explored by Joost and funded by his VR postdoc grant, in collaboration with the Nelson group at Imperial College London and Luscombe group at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology.
Representative publications
Sci. Adv. 11 (19), eadv8168 (2025)
People
Renee Kroon - Research group leader
Unfortunately, my days in the lab are over. My last feat was to neutralize a piranha solution.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Spend time with the family, play board games. To relax I like gardening, cooking and tinkering on the house. Since one year I took on climbing, in particular bouldering.
What is your favorite molecule?
Caffeine because without it, I do not function. The other molecule that I really like is geosmin, a compound produced by bacteria that is partly responsible for the smell of petrichor (the earthy scent when rain falls on dry soil).
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Joost Kimpel - VR Postdoc (2026)
What are you working on in the lab?
My project focuses on mechanistic understanding of conjugated polymer synthesis. Through a combination of computation and novel catalyst synthesis, I hope to make any conjugated polymer under safer and less energy-intensive conditions. I am also very passionate about teaching, so any opportunity I get to mentor students or contribute to outreach and education is especially meaningful to me.
What do you like to do in your free time?
When my head isn't in the chemistry clouds, I like to play (board)games with friends, reading books on medieval history, collecting CDs, or go out for a run/swim/cycle. Besides this, I love exploring new places, trying out new restaurants, and the occasional karaoke session with my wife.
What is your favorite molecule?
Chromium(II) acetate! Thought you knew all the rules of chemistry? I present to you: a quadruple chromium-chromium bond!
Ludivine Poyac 鈥� Postdoc (2025)
What are you working on in the lab?
I am working on the synthesis and functionalization of conjugated polymers for stable doping of organic semiconductors.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Outside the lab, I don鈥檛 have a single passion, but I like trying new activities. I spend most of my time outdoors, hiking, running or cycling. At home, I鈥檇 like to explore new creative projects like sewing and craft projects.
What is your favorite molecule?
My favorite molecule is chlorophyll. It may be a small pigment, but it initiates the process of turning light into oxygen and energy while it gives the world its green look style!
Aatika Sadia - PhD student (2022)
What are you working on in the lab?
I work on enzyme-catalysis for the synthesis of conjugated monomers.
What do you like to do in your free time?
My hobbies include photography and graphic designing. I like playing with software dealing with visualizations. Other than this I often spend time walking around in the city and discovering new things.
What is your favorite molecule?
My favorite molecule鈥�.it must be diethyl ether simply because it鈥檚 easy to evaporate. 馃槉
Cecilia Bruschi 鈥� Postdoc (2023)
What are you working on in the lab?
I have been a visiting PhD (2022) who joined the Conjugated Polymer Chemistry group after my defense as a postdoc. I study doping processes and interactions of conjugated polymers with oxygen.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like watching tv series, going hiking, dancing Zumba and listening to music
What is your favorite molecule?
My favorite molecule is azobenzene because it is the first one that I characterized and studied during my bachelor and it shows an interesting photoisomerization process.
Asaminew Shimolo 鈥� PhD student (2023)
What are you working on in the lab?
I work on the synthesis of conjugated polymers for recyclable electroactive cellulose coatings.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Outside of the lab, I read non-academic books, watch movies and mostly I do martial arts and sometimes go to the gym.
What is your favorite molecule?
As a polymer chemist, my favorite molecule is thiophene. It is an aromatic compound which enables me to do a lot of structural modification and functionalization. It is an essential element in the backbone design of many conjugated polymers.
Rio Abdurrahman 鈥� PhD student (2023)
What are you working on in the lab?
I work on the synthesis of conjugated polymers from forest-based synthons.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love photography, especially capturing landscapes. Whether it is a sunrise over a lake or a sunset behind mountains, I enjoy framing these beautiful moments. I also enjoy hiking, which keeps me active, and it is something incredibly refreshing about being out in nature, exploring new trails, and reaching breathtaking viewpoints. Another hobby I cherish is singing, both solo and in a choir. Singing solo allows me to express my emotions and connect with music on a personal level, and singing in a choir brings a sense of community and harmony.
What is your favorite molecule?
Dopamine as a 鈥渇eel-good鈥� molecule. Moreover, dopamine plays crucial roles in the body, and it is like my brain鈥檚 way of encouraging me to do things that are beneficial and enjoyable, keeping me motivated and engaged with my surroundings. Fun fact, my phone鈥檚 personal hotspot is named 鈥渄opamine鈥�, so if you see the WiFi with 鈥渄opamine鈥� name, maybe I am currently around you.
Alumni
PhD鈥檚 and postdocs
Dr. Johanna Heimonen 鈥� PhD student (2021-2026)Dr. Heimonen worked on the synthesis of conjugated polymers for forest-based:conjugated polymer hybrid materials [Thesis]. After her graduation, she started working for the startup company Westra Materials AB in August 2026.
Dr. Marle Vleugels 鈥� Postdoc (2025-2026)
Dr. Vleugels worked on the design, synthesis and development of hydrogel materials that allow for drug delivery with electronic precision. Since August 2026, Marle is working at Lonza as a development manager.
BSc, Msc and Erasmus Students
鈥� William Norberg 鈥� Bachelor student & teaching assistant鈥� Ludwig Solem 鈥� Bachelor student
鈥� Cheyenne Glas 鈥� Erasmus student
鈥� Filip Asplund 鈥� Bachelor student
鈥� Victor Petrov 鈥� Erasmus student听
鈥� Jonathan Adler 鈥� Master student
鈥� Masoumeh Ghozatloo 鈥� Labor market education (麻豆社 Korta v盲gen)
鈥� Alena Ferhatovic 鈥� Labor market education (麻豆社 Korta v盲gen)
Research Infrastructure
LOE Research Infrastructure
Publications
2026
Collaboration
Christian M眉ller is a group leader and materials science expert at Chalmers University of Technology. With Christian, we develop conjugated polymer:cellulose hybrid materials and stable doping of organic semiconductors.
Liyang Yu is a group leader and materials science expert at Sichuan University. With Liyang, we analyze the micro- and nanostructure of functionalized conjugated polymers.
The Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC) is a research center between three major universities in Sweden (KTH, Chalmers, and Link枚ping University). The vision of WWSC is that the forest can offer bio-based alternatives to fossil-based materials. In Sweden, WWSC is the largest initiative in the field, engaging circa 50 PhDs and 20 postdocs. Many members in our group become members of WWSC, providing them with a large research and professional network that they can use in their future careers. .
News
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Open Positions
We have one position open for a postdoc scholar! More information can be found at LOE 鈥� vacancies鈥�