Karl Leo
Encyclopedia
Karl Leo is a German physicist.
. In 1986 he joined the
Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
in Stuttgart
for a PhD under the guidance of Hans Queisser.
He then joined AT&T Bell Laboratories
in Holmdel (New Jersey) as a postdoctoral research associate. In 1991 he joined the RWTH Aachen
as an assistant professor and obtained the Habilitation degree. In 1993 he joined the Technische Universitaet Dresden as a professor of optoelectronics. Since 2002 he has been also with the Fraunhofer-Institut für Photonische Mikrosysteme, currently as director.
in a semiconductor superlattice. His work on organic semiconductors led to Organic Light Emitting Diodes with the highest power efficiencies reported and to Organic Solar Cells
with leading efficiency values. In 2002 he won the Leibniz award
, which is Germany's most prestigious scientific award.
Vita
Leo studied physics at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg and obtained the Diplomphysiker degree with a thesis on solar cells under supervision of Adolf Goetzberger at the Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare EnergiesystemeFraunhofer Society
The Fraunhofer Society is a German research organization with 60 institutes spread throughout Germany, each focusing on different fields of applied science . It employs around 18,000, mainly scientists and engineers, with an annual research budget of about €1.65 billion...
. In 1986 he joined the
Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research
The Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research is part of the Max Planck Society which operates 80 research facilities in Germany. It is a research institute located in Büsnau which is part of Stuttgart, Germany....
in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
for a PhD under the guidance of Hans Queisser.
He then joined AT&T Bell Laboratories
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
in Holmdel (New Jersey) as a postdoctoral research associate. In 1991 he joined the RWTH Aachen
RWTH Aachen
RWTH Aachen University is a research university located in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany with roughly 33,000 students enrolled in 101 study programs....
as an assistant professor and obtained the Habilitation degree. In 1993 he joined the Technische Universitaet Dresden as a professor of optoelectronics. Since 2002 he has been also with the Fraunhofer-Institut für Photonische Mikrosysteme, currently as director.
Achievements
Leo works in the field of semiconductor optics and the physics of thin organic films. In 1992 he discovered Bloch oscillationsBloch oscillations
Bloch oscillation is a phenomenon from solid state physics. It describes the oscillation of a particle confined in a periodic potential when a constant force is acting on it....
in a semiconductor superlattice. His work on organic semiconductors led to Organic Light Emitting Diodes with the highest power efficiencies reported and to Organic Solar Cells
Organic solar cell
An organic photovoltaic cell is a photovoltaic cell that uses organic electronics--a branch of electronics that deals with conductive organic polymers or small organic molecules for light absorption and charge transport....
with leading efficiency values. In 2002 he won the Leibniz award
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
The Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize is a research prize awarded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft every year since 1985 to scientists working in Germany. This highest German research prize consists of a research grant of 2.5 million euro, to be used within seven years...
, which is Germany's most prestigious scientific award.
Awards
- Otto-Hahn-Medaille, Max-Planck-GesellschaftMax Planck SocietyThe Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science is a formally independent non-governmental and non-profit association of German research institutes publicly funded by the federal and the 16 state governments of Germany....
, 1989 - Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Förderpreis des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, 1992
- Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-PreisGottfried Wilhelm Leibniz PrizeThe Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize is a research prize awarded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft every year since 1985 to scientists working in Germany. This highest German research prize consists of a research grant of 2.5 million euro, to be used within seven years...
, Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftThe Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft is an important German research funding organization and the largest such organization in Europe.-Function:...
, 2002