Dr Zhen (Jan) Li

Dr Zhen (Jan) Li

Postdoctoral Fellow

MSc (2017–2018), Green Energy Technology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

PhD (2019–2023), Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

 

Engineering
Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering

Jan Li is an ARC Decra Fellow at SPREE, UNSW Sydney.

Dr. Li received his M.S. from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and his Ph.D. from the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) in 2018 and 2023, respectively. His research expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of advanced topics in photovoltaic technology, with a particular focus on perovskite solar cells. Dr. Li's work involves the innovative design and synthesis of functional materials, comprehensive studies on the operational and degradation mechanisms of perovskite solar cells, and the development of scalable manufacturing processes for high-performance photovoltaic devices.

Location
School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, Tyree Energy Technologies Building (TETB) H6, Level 1 UNSW Sydney, NSW 2033 Australia
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Li B; Li S; Gong J; Wu X; Li Z; Gao D; Zhao D; Zhang C; Wang Y; Zhu Z, 2024, 'Fundamental understanding of stability for halide perovskite photovoltaics: The importance of interfaces', Chem, 10, pp. 35 - 47, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2023.09.002
    Journal articles | 2024
    Li B; Liu Q; Gong J; Li S; Zhang C; Gao D; Chen Z; Li Z; Wu X; Zhao D; Yu Z; Li X; Wang Y; Lu H; Zeng XC; Zhu Z, 2024, 'Harnessing strong aromatic conjugation in low-dimensional perovskite heterojunctions for high-performance photovoltaic devices', Nature Communications, 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47112-y
    Journal articles | 2024
    Li B; Zhang C; Gao D; Sun X; Zhang S; Li Z; Gong J; Li S; Zhu Z, 2024, 'Suppressing Oxidation at Perovskite–NiOx Interface for Efficient and Stable Tin Perovskite Solar Cells', Advanced Materials, 36, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.202309768
    Journal articles | 2024
    Zhao D; Wang Y; Sun X; Wu X; Li B; Zhang S; Gao D; Liu B; Gong S; Li Z; Zhang C; Chen X; Xiao S; Yang S; Li Z; Zhu Z, 2024, 'Charge Management Enables Efficient Spontaneous Chromatic Adaptation Bipolar Photodetector', Small, 20, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smll.202309827
    Journal articles | 2023
    Gao D; Li B; Li Z; Wu X; Zhang S; Zhao D; Jiang X; Zhang C; Wang Y; Li Z; Li N; Xiao S; Choy WCH; Jen AKY; Yang S; Zhu Z, 2023, 'Highly Efficient Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells through Pentylammonium Acetate Modification with Certified Efficiency of 23.35%', Advanced Materials, 35, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.202206387
    Journal articles | 2023
    Li B; Li Z; Gao D; Wu X; Li X; Zhang C; Li S; Gong J; Zhang D; Xie X; Xiao S; Lu H; Li M; Zhu Z, 2023, 'Underlayer engineering of grain strain toward efficient and stable tin perovskite solar cells', Materials Chemistry Frontiers, 7, pp. 3406 - 3413, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d3qm00236e
    Journal articles | 2023
    Li X; Wu X; Li B; Zhang S; Liu Y; Li Z; Zhang D; Wang X; Sun Q; Gao D; Zhang C; Huang WH; Chueh CC; Chen CL; Yang S; Xiao S; Wang Z; Zhu Z, 2023, 'Efficient Solar-Driven Water Splitting Enabled by Perovskite Photovoltaics and a Halogen-Modulated Metal-Organic Framework Electrocatalyst', ACS Nano, 17, pp. 23478 - 23487, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.3c05583
    Journal articles | 2023
    Li Z; Sun X; Zheng X; Li B; Gao D; Zhang S; Wu X; Li S; Gong J; Luther JM; Li Z; Zhu Z, 2023, 'Stabilized hole-selective layer for high-performance inverted p-i-n perovskite solar cells', Science, 382, pp. 284 - 289, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/SCIENCE.ADE9637
    Journal articles | 2023
    Wu X; Gao D; Sun X; Zhang S; Wang Q; Li B; Li Z; Qin M; Jiang X; Zhang C; Li Z; Lu X; Li N; Xiao S; Zhong X; Yang S; Li Z; Zhu Z, 2023, 'Backbone Engineering Enables Highly Efficient Polymer Hole-Transporting Materials for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells', Advanced Materials, 35, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.202208431
    Journal articles | 2023
    Wu X; Zhang D; Wang X; Jiang X; Liu B; Li B; Li Z; Gao D; Zhang C; Wang Y; Zhu Z, 2023, 'Eco-friendly perovskite solar cells: From materials design to device processing and recycling', EcoMat, 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eom2.12352
    Journal articles | 2023
    Yu XY; Gao D; Li Z; Sun X; Li B; Zhu Z; Li Z, 2023, 'Green-solvent Processable Dopant-free Hole Transporting Materials for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells', Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 62, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.202218752
    Journal articles | 2023
    Zheng X; Li Z; Zhang Y; Chen M; Liu T; Xiao C; Gao D; Patel JB; Kuciauskas D; Magomedov A; Scheidt RA; Wang X; Harvey SP; Dai Z; Zhang C; Morales D; Pruett H; Wieliczka BM; Kirmani AR; Padture NP; Graham KR; Yan Y; Nazeeruddin MK; McGehee MD; Zhu Z; Luther JM, 2023, 'Co-deposition of hole-selective contact and absorber for improving the processability of perovskite solar cells', Nature Energy, 8, pp. 462 - 472, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41560-023-01227-6
    Journal articles | 2022
    Li B; Li Z; Wu X; Zhu Z, 2022, 'Interface functionalization in inverted perovskite solar cells: From material perspective', Nano Research Energy, 1, http://dx.doi.org/10.26599/NRE.2022.9120011
    Journal articles | 2022
    Li B; Wu X; Zhang H; Zhang S; Li Z; Gao D; Zhang C; Chen M; Xiao S; Jen AKY; Yang S; Zhu Z, 2022, 'Efficient and Stable Tin Perovskite Solar Cells by Pyridine-Functionalized Fullerene with Reduced Interfacial Energy Loss', Advanced Functional Materials, 32, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202205870
    Journal articles | 2022
    Li B; Wu X; Zhang S; Li Z; Gao D; Chen X; Xiao S; Chueh CC; Jen AKY; Zhu Z, 2022, 'Efficient and stable Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskite solar cells through in-situ surface modulation', Chemical Engineering Journal, 446, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.137144
    Journal articles | 2022
    Li X; Wu X; Li B; Cen Z; Shang Y; Lian W; Cao R; Jia L; Li Z; Gao D; Jiang X; Chen T; Lu Y; Zhu Z; Yang S, 2022, 'Modulating the deep-level defects and charge extraction for efficient perovskite solar cells with high fill factor over 86%', Energy and Environmental Science, 15, pp. 4813 - 4822, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2ee02543d
    Journal articles | 2022
    Li Z; Li B; Wu X; Sheppard SA; Zhang S; Gao D; Long NJ; Zhu Z, 2022, 'Organometallic-functionalized interfaces for highly efficient inverted perovskite solar cells', Science, 376, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abm8566
    Journal articles | 2022
    Li Z; Wu X; Li B; Zhang S; Gao D; Liu Y; Li X; Zhang N; Hu X; Zhi C; Jen AKY; Zhu Z, 2022, 'Sulfonated Graphene Aerogels Enable Safe-to-Use Flexible Perovskite Solar Modules', Advanced Energy Materials, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202103236
    Journal articles | 2022
    Li Z; Wu X; Wu S; Gao D; Dong H; Huang F; Hu X; Jen AKY; Zhu Z, 2022, 'An effective and economical encapsulation method for trapping lead leakage in rigid and flexible perovskite photovoltaics', Nano Energy, 93, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106853
    Journal articles | 2022
    Wang D; Guo H; Wu X; Deng X; Li F; Li Z; Lin F; Zhu Z; Zhang Y; Xu B; Jen AKY, 2022, 'Interfacial Engineering of Wide-Bandgap Perovskites for Efficient Perovskite/CZTSSe Tandem Solar Cells', Advanced Functional Materials, 32, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202107359
    Journal articles | 2022
    Wang Y; Yu H; Wu X; Zhao D; Zhang S; Zou X; Li B; Gao D; Li Z; Xia X; Chen X; Lu X; Yan H; Chueh CC; Jen AKY; Zhu Z, 2022, 'Boosting the Fill Factor through Sequential Deposition and Homo Hydrocarbon Solvent toward Efficient and Stable All-Polymer Solar Cells', Advanced Energy Materials, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202202729
    Journal articles | 2022
    Zhao D; Gao D; Wu X; Li B; Zhang S; Li Z; Wang Q; Wu Z; Zhang C; Choy WCH; Zhong X; He Q; Zhu Z, 2022, 'Efficient and Stable 3D/2D Perovskite Solar Cells through Vertical Heterostructures with (BA)4AgBiBr8 Nanosheets', Advanced Materials, 34, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.202204661
    Journal articles | 2021
    Jiang K; Zhang J; Peng Z; Lin F; Wu S; Li Z; Chen Y; Yan H; Ade H; Zhu Z; Jen AKY, 2021, 'Pseudo-bilayer architecture enables high-performance organic solar cells with enhanced exciton diffusion length', Nature Communications, 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20791-z
    Journal articles | 2021
    Sun X; Li Z; Yu X; Wu X; Zhong C; Liu D; Lei D; Jen AKY; Li Z; Zhu Z, 2021, 'Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Low Voltage Loss Achieved by a Pyridine-Based Dopant-Free Polymer Semiconductor', Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 60, pp. 7227 - 7233, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.202016085
    Journal articles | 2021
    Wu S; Li Z; Zhang J; Wu X; Deng X; Liu Y; Zhou J; Zhi C; Yu X; Choy WCH; Zhu Z; Jen AKY, 2021, 'Low-Bandgap Organic Bulk-Heterojunction Enabled Efficient and Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells', Advanced Materials, 33, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.202105539
    Journal articles | 2021
    Wu X; Qi F; Li F; Deng X; Li Z; Wu S; Liu T; Liu Y; Zhang J; Zhu Z, 2021, 'Low-Temperature Processed Carbon Electrode-Based Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance and Stability', Energy and Environmental Materials, 4, pp. 95 - 102, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eem2.12089
    Journal articles | 2021
    Yu X; Li Z; Sun X; Zhong C; Zhu Z; Li Z; Jen AKY, 2021, 'Dopant-free dicyanofluoranthene-based hole transporting material with low cost enables efficient flexible perovskite solar cells', Nano Energy, 82, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105701
    Journal articles | 2020
    Li F; Deng X; Qi F; Li Z; Liu D; Shen D; Qin M; Wu S; Lin F; Jang SH; Zhang J; Lu X; Lei D; Lee CS; Zhu Z; Jen AKY, 2020, 'Regulating Surface Termination for Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Greater Than 23% Efficiency', Journal of the American Chemical Society, 142, pp. 20134 - 20142, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c09845
    Journal articles | 2020
    Li F; Zhang J; Jo SB; Qin M; Li Z; Liu T; Lu X; Zhu Z; Jen AKY, 2020, 'Vertical Orientated Dion–Jacobson Quasi-2D Perovskite Film with Improved Photovoltaic Performance and Stability', Small Methods, 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smtd.201900831
    Journal articles | 2020
    Li Z; Wu S; Zhang J; Lee KC; Lei H; Lin F; Wang Z; Zhu Z; Jen AKY, 2020, 'Hybrid Perovskite-Organic Flexible Tandem Solar Cell Enabling Highly Efficient Electrocatalysis Overall Water Splitting', Advanced Energy Materials, 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202000361
    Journal articles | 2020
    Li Z; Wu S; Zhang J; Yuan Y; Wang Z; Zhu Z, 2020, 'Improving Photovoltaic Performance Using Perovskite/Surface-Modified Graphitic Carbon Nitride Heterojunction', Solar RRL, 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/solr.201900413
    Journal articles | 2020
    Li Z; Zhang J; Wu S; Deng X; Li F; Liu D; Lee CC; Lin F; Lei D; Chueh CC; Zhu Z; Jen AKY, 2020, 'Minimized surface deficiency on wide-bandgap perovskite for efficient indoor photovoltaics', Nano Energy, 78, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105377
    Journal articles | 2020
    Mohamed MG; Lee CC; EL-Mahdy AFM; Lüder J; Yu MH; Li Z; Zhu Z; Chueh CC; Kuo SW, 2020, 'Exploitation of two-dimensional conjugated covalent organic frameworks based on tetraphenylethylene with bicarbazole and pyrene units and applications in perovskite solar cells', Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 8, pp. 11448 - 11459, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d0ta02956d
    Journal articles | 2020
    Sun X; Deng X; Li Z; Xiong B; Zhong C; Zhu Z; Li Z; Jen AKY, 2020, 'Dopant-Free Crossconjugated Hole-Transporting Polymers for Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells', Advanced Science, 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/advs.201903331
    Journal articles | 2020
    Wu S; Li Z; Li MQ; Diao Y; Lin F; Liu T; Zhang J; Tieu P; Gao W; Qi F; Pan X; Xu Z; Zhu Z; Jen AKY, 2020, '2D metal–organic framework for stable perovskite solar cells with minimized lead leakage', Nature Nanotechnology, 15, pp. 934 - 940, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41565-020-0765-7
    Journal articles | 2020
    Wu S; Zhang J; Li Z; Liu D; Qin M; Cheung SH; Lu X; Lei D; So SK; Zhu Z; Jen AKY, 2020, 'Modulation of Defects and Interfaces through Alkylammonium Interlayer for Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells', Joule, 4, pp. 1248 - 1262, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2020.04.001
    Journal articles | 2019
    Wang Y; Lan W; Li N; Lan Z; Li Z; Jia J; Zhu F, 2019, 'Stability of Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells: from Built-in Potential and Interfacial Passivation Perspectives', Advanced Energy Materials, 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201900157
    Journal articles | 2019
    Wu S; Li Z; Zhang J; Liu T; Zhu Z; Jen AKY, 2019, 'Efficient large guanidinium mixed perovskite solar cells with enhanced photovoltage and low energy losses', Chemical Communications, 55, pp. 4315 - 4318, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9cc00016j

2024-2026 - JA Solar Green to Global grant, $644,984

2025-2027 - Tackling instability issue of perovskite toward lab-to-field PV application, ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher, $473,691

2024-2025 - GRIP Seed Award

 

 

 

  • 2024 ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher                 

 

Single-junction Perovskite Thin-Film Solar Cells

This research project aims to enhance the efficiency and stability of single-junction perovskite thin-film solar cells through innovative methodologies. Key areas of focus include the development of advanced interfacial engineering techniques to suppress non-radiative recombination and facilitate charge transport in perovskite solar cells, along with precise regulation of the perovskite crystallisation process. The overarching objectives are to significantly boost power conversion efficiency (PCE), enhance long-term operational stability, and achieve scalable fabrication for large-area applications. This comprehensive approach aims to advance the performance and commercial viability of perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite-based Tandem Solar Cells

Tandem solar cells represent a forefront innovation in photovoltaics, composed of multiple layers of light-absorbing materials engineered to capture specific segments of the solar spectrum. This multilayer design, incorporating materials such as silicon, organic polymers, and kesterite alongside perovskite, enables tandem cells to surpass the efficiency limits of traditional single-junction solar cells. The research focuses on the development of perovskite-based tandem solar cells, leveraging stable wide-bandgap perovskite single junctions pioneered by the research group. 

Organic Functional Materials

This research centres on the design, synthesis, and assembly behaviour of novel organic and polymeric charge transport materials with new structures and functionalities. It also involves the development of interface passivation materials, both of which are intended to enhance the performance, stability, and efficiency of perovskite solar cells. By integrating these advanced materials, the research seeks to significantly improve the operational stability and practical applicability of perovskite solar cells, thereby contributing to their commercial viability.