ASPECT Lab

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Sat, 01 Jun 2030 13:00:00 +0000

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Contact

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

People

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Research Overview

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The ASPECT (Analysis of Semiconductor Photon-Electron Conversion Technology) lab focuses on advancing the frontiers of non-silicon semiconductors, concentrating on organic and hybrid materials to push the boundaries of photon-electron conversion mechanisms. Our research integrates fundamental material science with innovative device engineering to address current energy, imaging, and sensing challenges.

Scientific Aspects

Below are the primary research areas we explore:

Novel Semiconductors: Exploring materials that offer unique structural, optical, and electronic properties to transcend the limitations of traditional silicon-based technologies, including Organic Semiconductors and Hybrid Semiconductors, to address critical energy, imaging, and sensing challenges.
Photodetectors: Development of sensitive, high-speed devices for light-to-electrical signal conversion. We explore novel architectures and material interfaces for next-generation imaging and sensing.

We welcome collaborations and are constantly looking for passionate researchers to join our efforts in tackling these challenges. Feel free to contact us for more information. For prospective diploma students, please fill in the Google form link before contacting us.

Breaking Crystallinity for Optimal Dark Current: Nonfullerene Acceptor Dilution as a Strategy for High-Performance Organic Photodetectors

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

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Generalised Framework for Controlling and Understanding Ion Dynamics with Passivated Lead Halide Perovskites

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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Molecular orientation-dependent energetic shifts in solution-processed non-fullerene acceptors and their impact on organic photovoltaic performance

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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Solution-Processed Single-Component Organic Photodetectors - Strong Quadrupole Moments in Molecules Enable the State-of-the-Art Performance

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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Charge transfer complex formation between organic interlayers drives light-soaking in large area perovskite solar cells

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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Deciphering the Role of Hole Transport Layer HOMO Level on the Open Circuit Voltage of Perovskite Solar Cells

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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The State-of-the-Art Solution-Processed Single Component Organic Photodetectors Achieved by Strong Quenching of Intermolecular Emissive State and High Quadrupole Moment in Non-Fullerene Acceptors

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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Triplet-triplet annihilation reduces non-radiative voltage losses in organic solar cells

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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Understanding the Role of Triplet-Triplet Annihilation in Non-Fullerene Acceptor Organic Solar Cells

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

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2D bismuthene as a functional interlayer between BiVO$_\textrm{4}$ and NiFeOOH for enhanced oxygen‐evolution photoanodes

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

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Insight into the Origin of Trapping in Polymer/Fullerene Blends with a Systematic Alteration of the Fullerene to Higher Adducts

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

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Organic Bilayer Photovoltaics for Efficient Indoor Light Harvesting

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

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Strong Intermolecular Interactions Induced by High Quadrupole Moments Enable Excellent Photostability of Non-Fullerene Acceptors for Organic Photovoltaics

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

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Suppressing PEDOT:PSS Doping-Induced Interfacial Recombination Loss in Perovskite Solar Cells

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

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Optimal Interfacial Band Bending Achieved by Fine Energy Level Tuning in Mixed-Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

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Jian Yang and Monica Hall Win the Best Paper Award at Wowchemy 2020

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to Jian Yang and Monica Hall for winning the Best Paper Award at the 2020 Conference on Wowchemy for their paper “Learning Wowchemy”.

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Orientation dependent molecular electrostatics drives efficient charge generation in homojunction organic solar cells

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

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Richard Hendricks Wins First Place in the Wowchemy Prize

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to Richard Hendricks for winning first place in the Wowchemy Prize.

Exceptionally low charge trapping enables highly efficient organic bulk heterojunction solar cells

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

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Patterned liquid metal contacts for high density, stick-and-peel 2D material device arrays

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000

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Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Novel Semiconductors

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The development of novel semiconductor materials is essential to transcend the limitations of traditional silicon-based technologies. By exploring materials that offer unique structural, optical, and electronic properties, we aim to address the critical challenges in next-generation energy conversion, imaging, and sensing.

Organic Semiconductors

Organic semiconductors are carbon-based materials—typically polymers or small molecules—that possess conjugated π-electron systems. This unique chemical structure enables them to exhibit semiconducting behavior, characterized by a tunable bandgap between their highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). They offer exceptional mechanical flexibility, light weight, and the potential for large-area, low-cost solution processing. Their highly tunable bandgaps make them particularly suited for specialized applications, ranging from infrared (IR) photodetectors to flexible optoelectronics. Our research bridges the gap between fundamental electronic properties—such as charge transport in disordered systems—and the practical optimization of device architectures for high-performance energy solutions.

*Figure: Examples of small molecule organic semiconductor: from left to right are Y6, PCE12, CuPC.*

Hybrid Semiconductors

Hybrid semiconductors, most notably metal-halide perovskites, represent a class of materials that synthesize the structural versatility of organic compounds with the superior optoelectronic properties of inorganic crystals. These materials are defined by an $ABX_3$ perovskite crystal structure, typically consisting of larger corner cations (A-site), a central metal cation (B-site), and halide anions (X-site) forming an octahedral framework. This architecture facilitates high absorption coefficients and exceptionally low exciton binding energies, which significantly enhance charge-collection efficiency in photovoltaic and photodetection applications. Beyond their impressive efficiency, they are of immense research interest due to their potential for defect tolerance and tunable composition, which allows for precise electronic engineering. Our research investigates strategies to improve their long-term stability and efficiency, supported by fundamental studies to deepen the understanding of charge transport dynamics at the interface of these hybrid architectures.

*Figure: Perovskite unit cell ($ABX_3$), where the corner cation (A), central cation (B), and halide anions (X) form the lattice.*

Photodetectors

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Seeing the Unseen: The Next Generation of Light Sensing

Photodetectors are the hidden heroes of modern technology. From the camera in your smartphone and the fiber-optic sensors that power the internet to the medical diagnostic tools that save lives, these devices act as the bridge between the optical world and electronic information.

While silicon has been the foundation of this technology for decades, our research aims to overcome its inherent limitations. Silicon struggles to capture infrared light—a crucial range for communication, night vision, and medical imaging—and its rigid nature limits where and how we can use these sensors.

Our Approach: Hybrid Technology

To push the boundaries of what is possible, our laboratory is developing a new class of “broadband” photodetectors. We are bridging the gap between two emerging materials: Halide Perovskites and Organic Semiconductors.

Halide Perovskites: These materials are the rising stars of optoelectronics. They are incredibly efficient at absorbing visible light, cost-effective to produce, and can be printed onto flexible surfaces.
Organic Semiconductors: Made from carbon-based molecules, these materials are highly versatile. We can “tune” their chemical structure to act as specialized filters that capture infrared light that silicon simply misses.

By creating “tandem” structures that stack these materials together, we can build sensors that capture a much broader spectrum of light—from ultraviolet all the way into the short-wave infrared—in a single, high-performance device.

Solving the Interface Challenge

The real magic happens at the interface where these two materials meet. In our current research, we are tackling the complex challenge of managing charge transfer at this junction. Our work involves:

Energy Engineering: Precisely tailoring the atomic energy levels at the interface to ensure that electricity flows smoothly between materials without being lost as heat.
Surface Passivation: Using advanced chemical treatments to “seal” defects at the surface of these materials, preventing energy-draining traps and significantly extending the device’s lifespan.
Stability Optimization: Developing robust architectures to ensure these high-performance sensors can operate reliably for thousands of hours, even in real-world conditions.

By mastering these interactions, we are not just creating better photodetectors—we are building the foundation for the next decade of intelligent, sensitive, and versatile optoelectronic devices that will transform how we sense the world around us.

Photovoltaics

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In the field of photovoltaics, I am dedicated to improving the conversion efficiency of solar energy into electrical power. This includes exploring novel material systems and device designs to overcome the current limitations of traditional silicon-based cells, focusing on organic and hybrid approaches.