Ultrafast Spectroscopy of Novel Semiconductors and Devices

This project focuses on the photophysics of novel semiconductors and devices, particularly the interactions between electrons/excitons and phonons/vibrational modes after the absorption of a photon through the use of ultrafast spectroscopy.

Since the development of ultrafast pulsed laser technologies, ultrafast optical spectroscopy has become a powerful family of techniques to characterise both bulk semiconductor materials and their interfaces, as well as optoelectronic devices. Ultrafast spectroscopy can be likened to old fashioned strobe photography, albeit at a billion-fold better time resolution, wherein very fast processes/events are monitored by freezing in time a series of frames which when reconstructed give a picture of the electronic dynamics triggered by optical absorption. This family of techniques uses sequential ultrashort light pulses, usually in the femtosecond regime, to study/monitor photoinduced dynamical processes.

Topics include hot carriers for wavelength tuneable photodetection and for photovoltaics, the effect of phase and lattice distortion on electron-phonon interactions in perovskites, quantum confined structures for phonon cavities, and for studying new materials for advanced solar cells.

How to Apply

Express your interest in this project by emailing Dr Michael Nielsen at michael.nielsen@unsw.edu.au. Include a copy of your CV and your academic transcript(s).