RI-IWEAR Research Seminar XII

Topic 1：New Nanomanufacturing Paradigms for Sustainable Large-Area Electronics

By Prof. Thomas D. Anthopoulos 

Adapting existing manufacturing methods to emerging forms of large-area nanostructured electronics presents major technological and economic challenges. Despite the difficulties, several new processing concepts have gained ground, transforming the broader marketplace and relevant manufacturing infrastructure. In this talk, I will discuss our recent efforts toward scalable manufacturing of emerging forms of large-area nanostructured electronics. I will show how developing innovative patterning technologies with engineered nanomaterials can lead to more sustainable optoelectronics with high-performance characteristics. Particular emphasis will be placed on the development and evolution of adhesion lithography (a-Lith) and self-forming nanogap lithography techniques and their use in an expanding range of applications, from ultra-fast optoelectronics to new chemical reactors and sensors. 

Topic 2: Strategies for engineering performance improvements in perovskite photovoltaics

By Prof. Martyn A. McLachlan

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) continue to stimulate interest, generate significant research volume, and fuel scientific discussion and debate. The rapid evolution and deployment of MHPs to the commercial realm has been a remarkable journey. These materials, and their precursors, afford numerous synthetic pathways from a plethora of starting materials via a variety of processes – the sum of which are complex, multi component functional materials around which numerous scientific questions remain unanswered. Here we investigate the role of additives and post-deposition processing and their influence of morphology and microstructure on photovoltaic device performance and MHP stability.
 
Many strategies have emerged for tuning the properties of MHPs from substitutional doping to influence bandgap and electronic properties to additive incorporation to tune lifetime and stability – collectively resulting in a diverse range of compositions or “flavours” of MHPs being reported. Here I will discuss strategies reliant on additive incorporation that result in improvements in photovoltaic device performance and stability. In parallel we consider the interaction such additive molecules have with the MHP films and by utilising a range of correlative characterisation techniques we probe the location where our additives reside and the influence they have on the microstructure and morphology. By carrying out systematic studies of isolated MHP films, films sandwiched with interlayers and complete devices we explain the key relationships between structure, composition, and performance of our additive engineered perovskite solar cells.