Professor Norbert Koch is a distinguished scholar and leading authority in the field of organic and molecular electronics with significant contributions to materials interface science. He currently serves as Professor of Physics at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and leads a joint research group at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie. Koch received his doctorate in solid state physics from Technische Universität Graz in Austria in 2000, where he also completed his undergraduate studies in technical physics. Following his doctoral work, he spent two years as a staff scientist at Joanneum Research in Austria before undertaking postdoctoral research at Princeton University from 2000 to 2002, where he investigated organic/metal interfaces and covalently surface-bound self-assembled monolayers.
Professor Koch's pioneering research has fundamentally advanced the understanding of interfaces between organic semiconductors and inorganic materials, which is critical for developing efficient optoelectronic devices. His work has been instrumental in developing methods to optimize the electronic properties of these interfaces, directly contributing to improvements in organic light-emitting diodes, photovoltaic cells, and other organic electronic components. With more than 16,300 citations and an h-index of 66, his research has established foundational principles for the field of organic semiconductor interfaces. Koch's investigations into the fundamental aspects of organic semiconductor doping and hybrid interfaces involving perovskites and 2D semiconductors have opened new pathways for next-generation electronic devices, with his molecular electronics research exploring the potential for realizing electronic functions using specifically interacting molecules.
Beyond his research achievements, Professor Koch has significantly shaped the field through his editorial leadership as Scientific Editor for Materials Horizons and as a member of the editorial board for Materials Today Energy. He has served as Deputy Director of the Integrative Research Institute for the Sciences at Adlershof and as spokesperson for important research initiatives. His laboratory continues to advance the frontiers of organic and hybrid electronic materials, with current research focusing on unraveling fundamental processes in organic semiconductor systems and developing novel approaches for interface engineering. Professor Koch's ongoing work promises to further advance the efficiency and applicability of organic electronic devices, cementing his legacy as a transformative figure in materials science whose contributions span from fundamental understanding to practical applications in optoelectronics.
