Welcome to Energy Engineering and Materials Devices group
Areas of Research
Physics of Semiconductor Materials and Devices
We have expertise in time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) and transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) and use them successfully to understand the exciton/charge carrier dynamics in a range of semiconductor materials including nanomaterials, organic and perovskite semiconductors.
Measurement of exciton dynamic in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (Phys. Rev. Lett., 2013, 111, 197401)
Temperature-dependent PL decay profile of TADF emitterSolar Cells and Artificial Photosynthesis
There is a growing drive towards the reduction of energy demand in the UK and worldwide with special emphasis on harvesting the light from the sun. Our group (in collaboration with the leading Chemists) is developing new materials and devices to efficiently harvest this sunlight to produce either electricity or Fuel.
Indoor and Outdoor Perovskite Solar Cells (with UCL) published in Adv.Funct. Mater (2025)
Efficient eco-friendly quantum dot sensitised solar cells, featured on the inside front cover of J. Mater. Chem. A (2016).
Light Emitting Materials & Devices
Organic and hybrid semiconductors offer unique advantages like tunable emission and solution processability, enabling low-cost, large-area, and flexible light sources for optoelectronic applications. Our group is developing innovative fabrication methods to create high-performance, stable, and affordable organic and perovskite LEDs. We explore their applications in communication and agriculture to medical technologies.
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)
Broadband colour-converted link using organic semiconductors (published in ACS Photonics, 2025, 2, 194)
Melanoma skin cancer detection using flexible LEDs and Photodiodes (PDs)
Photo-Assisted Rechargeable Batteries
Photoelectrodes (GB2503090.9), 2025
Batteries are key to a sustainable energy future, but face challenges like limited lifespan, high costs, and environmental impact. Our group is developing next-generation, light-rechargeable batteries using low-cost, sustainable materials. Using advanced operando microscopy, we monitor battery performance and degradation in real time to optimise materials and device design. Our goal is to create longer-lasting, faster-charging, and more affordable batteries.
Under light, the WO₃ photoanode-based photo-assisted Li-ion battery exceeded its theoretical capacity, featured as the front cover in Adv. Funct. Mater. (2025).
Interfacial strain engineering enables fatigue-resistant, high-capacity photo-assisted lithium storage, featured on the inside front cover of EES Batteries (2026).