Dr Zhen (Jan) Li

Single-Junction Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules

This research focuses on understanding and mitigating the fundamental degradation mechanisms that limit the long-term reliability of single-junction perovskite solar cells and modules. Particular emphasis is placed on the evolution of interfaces, ion migration, defect formation, residual strain, phase instability, and chemical reactions under thermal, light, electrical, and environmental stress. By combining materials design, interfacial engineering, advanced characterisation, and device-level reliability testing, the research aims to establish mechanistic links between microscopic degradation processes and macroscopic device failure. These insights are further translated into materials and device design strategies for stable, reproducible, and scalable perovskite photovoltaic technologies.

Perovskite-based Tandem Solar Cells and Modules

This research explores advanced tandem photovoltaic architectures that move beyond conventional monolithic integration and address the fundamental optical, electrical, and fabrication constraints between constituent sub-cells. Particular interest is placed on novel configurations that decouple these constraints, enabling greater flexibility in material selection, interconnection design, current management, and large-area integration. The research also investigates interfacial and interconnection stability, coupled degradation processes, and reliability under realistic operating conditions. More broadly, the principles of vertically integrated and spectrally selective device architectures are being extended towards other multijunction optoelectronic systems, including tandem light-emitting devices and multispectral photodetectors, providing opportunities for new approaches to light harvesting, emission, and detection.

Functional Molecular and Hybrid Materials

This research focuses on the rational design and synthesis of functional molecular, polymeric, coordination, and hybrid materials with tailored electronic, optical, chemical, and mechanical properties. Particular interest lies in establishing structure–property relationships by controlling molecular structure, intermolecular interactions, coordination chemistry, self-assembly, and solid-state organisation. These materials provide a versatile platform for regulating processes such as charge and ion transport, excited-state dynamics, chemical reactivity, and interfacial interactions. Beyond their use in photovoltaic technologies, the research seeks to develop new material systems for broader applications in optoelectronics, sensing, and emerging energy and biomedical technologies.

Functional Molecular and Hybrid Materials

An emerging research direction is the translation of advanced thin-film semiconductors and functional interfaces into optoelectronic devices for biomedical sensing and detection. This includes exploring photodetectors, optical and photoelectronic biosensors, and related sensing platforms for applications such as biomarker detection, point-of-care diagnostics, and physiological monitoring. The research aims to leverage expertise in semiconductor materials, interface engineering, signal transduction, and optoelectronic characterisation while developing interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in biomedical engineering, biosensing, and medical sciences. The longer-term goal is to establish new materials and device concepts that combine high sensitivity, low-power operation, and scalable fabrication for future biomedical technologies.