Prof. María Jesús Blesa

My research activity is rooted in organic and molecular materials chemistry, with a particular emphasis on π-conjugated systems and electroactive molecular architectures. I began my scientific training in Prof. Garín’s group at the University of Zaragoza, where my early work focused on tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives and structure determination in functional organic molecules.

My doctoral research was carried out at the Institute of Carboquímica (CSIC, Zaragoza), where I worked on the preparation and characterization of environmentally friendly fuel materials, gaining solid experience in materials processing, characterization and applied research. I subsequently undertook a postdoctoral stay at the University of Angers (France), where my research focused on electroactive supramolecular systems based on TTF units, including calixarene-derived architectures and donor–acceptor dyads, combining synthetic organic chemistry with electrochemical and structural characterization.

After this period, my research activity consolidated in the field of functional molecular materials, initially centred on donor–π–acceptor chromophores with second-order nonlinear optical properties for photonic and optoelectronic applications. In more recent years, my interests have expanded towards photoactive dyes for solar energy conversion, particularly dye-sensitized solar cells and related photovoltaic systems, exploiting multichromophoric and supramolecular design strategies. Since 2022, I have also been involved in the development of molecular systems for photoelectrochemical applications, including solar-driven water splitting, within national and international collaborative frameworks.