During his PhD studies, Mads Lund Nygaard Nielsen researched organic semiconductors for heterogeneous photocatalytic processes. These materials are promising photocatalysts due to their strong visible light absorption and construction from earth-abundant elements. Mads Lund Nygaard Nielsen studied the structure–activity relationship for these materials for applications for formic acid dehydrogenation and CO₂ reduction with a special emphasis on the influence of synthesis procedure and precursor choice on the structural and photocatalytic properties of select organic semiconductors.

These new research findings contribute to the understanding of how organic semiconductors can be optimised for future heterogeneous photocatalytic applications.

The PhD study was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 9 Januray 2026 at 13:00
Place: Building 1593, room 012, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus.
Title of PhD thesis: Structure–Activity Relationships in Organic Semiconductors for Heterogeneous Photocatalysis
Contact information: Mads Lund Nygaard Nielsen, e-mail: mnielsen@inano.au.dk, tel.: +45 30585335
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Petra Agota Szilagyi, Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway
Associate Professor Jiwoong Lee, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Professor Elena Ferapontova (chair), Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Associate Professor Nina Lock, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C