Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Stephanie Reich

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project A01 focuses on creating and manipulating collective molecular states formed by organic dye molecules assembled into monolayers on 2D materials such as graphene, hBN, and TMDs. By varying the molecules and 2D substrates, it engineers’ lattices with different symmetries and coupling strengths. This leads to emergent effects like collective molecular excitons and potential superradiant states with unique optical properties.

Experimental methods: physical vapor deposition (PVD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and fluorescence, absorption and Raman spectroscopy

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Hélène Seiler

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project A02 investigates how light and excitons strongly couple in mol2Dmat heterostructures with different structures and disorder. Using advanced two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy, it studies the formation, decay, and coherent dynamics of collective states. The goal is to understand near-field interactions, identify microscopic dissipation pathways, and control these processes through molecular design.

Experimental methods: two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES), Fourier plane imaging

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Andreas Knorr

Located at: Technische Universität Berlin

Project A03 explores new light-driven excitations in mol2Dmat systems, focusing on interlayer excitons and energy transfer. It develops theoretical tools to predict signals in optical experiments and studies how light and matter interact across distances, especially in molecular layers and 2D plasmons.

Theoretical methods: self-consistent solution of Maxwell- and many body Bloch-equations

Principal Investigator: Dr. Patryk Kusch

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project A04 uses near-field optical microscopy to study polaritons—hybrid light-matter states—in mol2Dmat systems. It investigates how excitons in molecular films couple to photonic states in materials like hBN or graphene. By imaging polariton behavior, the project aims to reveal their properties and create tunable plasmonic nanostructures with adjustable optical responses.

Experimental methods: scattering near-field optical microscope (SNOM), tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS)

Principal Investigators: Dr. Benedikt Haas & Prof. Dr. Christoph Koch

Located at: Humboldt Universität zu Berlin

Project A05 uses high-resolution electron microscopy and spectroscopy to study mol2Dmat structures and their exciton-polaritons. It visualizes new molecular species, maps polariton behavior, and explores light–matter interactions. Advanced techniques, such as ptychography and laser-stimulated spectroscopy enable atomically resolved imaging of electrostatic potentials and selective spectroscopy of excited states.

Experimental methods: electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), stimulated electron energy-gain spectroscopy (sEEGS), ptychography

Principal Investigator: Dr. Mariana Rossi

Located at: Max-Planck-Institut für Struktur und Dynamik der Materie (MPSD), Hamburg

Project A06 develops a machine-learning framework to predict the structure and electronic behavior of large molecular–2D material systems with high accuracy. It simulates donor–acceptor molecules on materials like graphene and hBN, capturing electron–phonon interactions, charge transfer, and temperature effects. The goal is to understand how 2D materials influence molecular properties at the atomic scale.

Theoretical methods: machine-learning

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Kirill Bolotin

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project B01 explores how charge transfer and excitons interact in electrically tuned mol2Dmat systems. Using optical spectroscopy, it probes how electric fields and molecular structure affect exciton behavior. The project aims to control exciton energies down to zero, enabling the study of exotic states like excitonic insulators and paving the way for novel optoelectronic devices.

Experimental methods: nanofabrication, optical spectroscopy, electronic transport

Principal Investigator: Dr. Sebastian Heeg

Located at: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Project B02 investigates charge transfer in mol2Dmat heterostructures with high spatial resolution using tip-enhanced Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy. It bridges the gap between nanoscale and microscale techniques to study how defects, strain, and inhomogeneity influence charge-transfer excitons. The project develops novel approaches to map exciton diffusion and distinguishes between localized and mobile excitonic states.

Experimental methods: tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), tip-enhanced photoluminescence (TEPL)

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Katharina Franke

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project B03 uses scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to study molecular structures on charge-density-wave materials like TiSe₂ and Ta₂NiSe₅. It investigates whether bandgap changes and charge-density waves are due to exciton formation or structural causes by analyzing how these features vary with molecular coverage.

Experimental methods: scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM)

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Martin Weinelt

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project B04 investigates excitons in mol2Dmat heterostructures using time-resolved ARPES to identify signatures of exciton condensation into an excitonic insulator. It focuses on molecule/TiSe₂ and molecule/Ta₂NiSe₅ systems to distinguish between excitonic insulator and pure charge-density-wave phase, and on molecule/WS₂ to study energy level alignment, charge-transfer exciton formation, and their ultrafast dynamics.

Experimental methods: time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (tr-ARPES)

Principal Investigatorr: Prof. Dr. Norbert Koch

Located at: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Project B05 examines charge transfer and electronic energy level alignment in complex mol2Dmat heterostructures using ARPES and XPS. By preparing bilayers with molecules on both sides, it quantifies how energy levels, intermolecular interactions, and defects affect charge transfer and excitations. The project aims to control charge flow to enable tunable electronic and optical properties.

Experimental methods: sample preparation, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Felix von Oppen

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project B06 studies how excitonic insulators in 2D materials, like TiSe₂, interact with molecular donors and acceptors—from single molecules to disordered arrays. It explores how these adsorbates affect exciton stability and scattering, aiming to identify clear experimental signatures of excitonic insulator states.

Theoretical methods: Mean field theory, Keldysh method (tunneling Hamiltonian), Bogoliubov-de-Gennes formalism, Green-function techniques

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Siegfried Eigler

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project C01 synthesizes new emissive dyes like perylenes and nanographenes, along with donor and acceptor molecules designed to control their orientation on graphene-based materials. By adjusting molecular spacers, the project fine-tunes the distance and interaction between molecules and 2D surfaces, enabling precise control over charge transfer and carrier density in 2D semiconductors.

Experimental methods: organic synthesis of dyes and donor/acceptor molecules

Principal Investigator: Dr. Xin Chen

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project C02 develops precise chemistry methods to attach dyes and charge-transfer molecules to 2D TMD materials. It creates novel covalent TMD hybrids with controlled coverage, location, and orientation of molecules, including Janus-type monolayers and bilayers, to tailor their optical and electronic properties for advanced functional materials.

Experimental methods: covalent functionalization, surface photochemistry, nanofilm patterning and transfer, Raman spectroscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hasenstab-Riedel

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project C03 explores halide–carbon interactions to better understand the intercalation process in 2D materials such as graphite, few-layer graphene, and carbon nanotubes. It investigates how charge transfer and confinement affect the structure and reactivity of intercalated species. Using in situ synthesis of polyhalide compounds, the project monitors these changes in real time with Raman scattering techniques.

Experimental methods: intercalation, Raman scattering

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Beate Paulus

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project C04 uses first-principles methods to predict electronic and optical properties of molecules, 2D materials, and their hybrids. It studies halogen intercalation in graphite and graphene, exploring polyhalogen formation and charge transfer. The project also models Janus-functionalized TMDs, doping effects, and molecular dyes, calculating spectroscopic and STM signatures to guide and compare with experiments.

Theoretical methods: DFT-based methods

Principal Investigator: Dr. Antonio Setaro

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

Project C05 studies one-dimensional molecular lattices using nanotubes as templates to create aligned molecular chains, forming giant J-aggregates with collective excitations. The project explores these states through luminescence, absorption, and Raman scattering, and investigates how molecular switches inside nanotubes affect emission. It also examines charge transfer and polyhalide chain formation using ionic liquids and donor/acceptor molecules.

Experimental methods: filling of nanotubes, photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy, absorption (UV-vis), Raman spectroscopy

Principal Investigator: Prof. Stefan Hecht, Ph.D.

Located at: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Project C06 explores molecular photochromism within TMDs, graphene, and nanotubes to understand and control the optoelectronic properties of hybrid materials. Using diarylethenes with large FMO shifts it aims to influence excitonic insulator phase transitions in TiSe₂ and TaNiSe₅, while the photoswitching behavior of dihydropyrenes and spiropyrans with large dipole changes will be controlled by strong external electric fields.

Experimental methods: organic synthesis of photoswitches, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), absorption (UV/vis)

Principal Investigators: Prof. Dr. Kirill Bolotin, Prof. Dr. Stephanie Reich, Prof. Dr. Siegfried Eigler, Prof. Dr. Norbert Koch

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Project Z01 is the core facility for fabricating and characterizing 2D materials and molecular–2D hybrids. It produces materials via chemical vapor deposition and exfoliation, and supports the other projects with standardized characterization techniques like photoluminescence, AFM, ToF-SIMS, XPS/UPS, and Raman spectroscopy. Z01 also offers hands-on training for doctoral candidates and postdocs in these fabrication and analysis methods.

Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Stephanie Reich

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

The central management project is responsible for the administration of CRC1772. It manages the central funds for gender equality, travel costs, retreats and workshops, student assistants, visitors, unforeseen tasks, and office supplies. Furthermore, project Z02 covers the expenses for public relations, such as design and maintenance of the CRC web pages, as well as for press releases. Z02 assists and promotes the communication within the CRC and to the outside world.

Project Leaders: Dr. Antonio Setaro, Prof. Dr. Siegfried Eigler, Prof. Dr. Hélène Seiler

Located at: Freie Universität Berlin

A structured training program complements the research training carried out in individual laboratories. The Integrated Research Training Group (IRTG) will focus on providing a broad scientific knowledge base and equipping graduate students with the transferable skills they will need in their future careers, whether in academia or industry. The IRTG offers structured qualifications, mentoring, and professional development to all graduate students and postdoctoral researchers associated with the CRC, including those directly funded by the CRC and those funded by other means. The training objective is to develop highly qualified individuals with specific competencies in basic research who have the capability to grow as academic or R&D leaders in industry or as leaders of future knowledge-intensive businesses.