Spatiotemporal Transient Dynamics in Advanced Photonic Materials (STAD)

The advancement of cutting-edge technologies in fields such as semiconducting electronics, strain-tuned devices, renewable energy, energy harvesting, high-efficiency perovskite photovoltaics, and quantum technology is intrinsically linked to the development and understanding of advanced materials. These materials encompass a wide range, including quantum materials, van der Waals two-dimensional heterostructures and photonic materials crucial for manipulating light at the nanoscale. Mastery over the interactions and dynamic properties of these materials at the nanoscale is pivotal for harnessing their full potential in various high-tech applications.
Probing and quantification of local electronic/electrochemical dynamics including transients arising from the charge-carrier diffusion/recombination and illumination-based photovoltage effects have been eagerly pursued since the advent of Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM). The past decades have seen SPM and its modalities become the de jure principal technique for nanoscale characterisation, imaging, and manipulation. In particular, Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) based electrical measurements have provided unprecedented insight into charge transport phenomena across the materials domain. However, the inherent measurement paradigm in classical feedback-based KPFM limits the information to static/quasi-static processes, while effectuating an irretrievable loss of information encoded in the transient response and higher-order harmonics. Yet, techniques capable of quantifying temporal evolution of surface potential simultaneous with multiparametric characterisation of mechanical and physical properties at both surface and subsurface levels are being increasingly sought for novel materials and in-operando devices alike.
This fellowship is positioned to address critical global challenges by focusing on renewable energy solutions, carbon emission reduction, and sustainable energy practices. It aims to pioneer novel methodologies and instrumentation capable of conducting detailed, time-resolved, multi-parameter measurements. A key innovation is the multifrequency open-loop wavelet-based Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (MF-OL-WT-KPFM), designed to surpass current limitations by enabling simultaneous in-situ imaging and characterisation of both surface and subsurface properties with unprecedented temporal resolution down to sub-microsecond (µs) timescales.
Employing this cutting-edge technique, this fellowship uncovers unprecedented insights into the fundamental interactions of advanced materials such as perovskite solar cells and 2D materials like graphene and Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs). These insights will illuminate how these materials respond to external stimuli such as light and electrical fields, thereby enhancing our understanding of their intricate physico-electrochemical properties. This understanding is essential for optimising the performance, efficiency, and durability of various devices crucial for sustainable energy solutions.
The potential impact of this research extends broadly. In the realm of photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices, advancements could lead to significant improvements in efficiency and stability, paving the way for more reliable renewable energy sources. For instance, a deeper comprehension of charge transport and recombination processes in perovskite solar cells could catalyse breakthroughs that make solar energy more economically viable and environmentally sustainable.
Beyond renewable energy, industries such as materials engineering, energy sectors, semiconductors, and scanning probe microscopy stand to benefit immensely from the outcomes of this fellowship. By providing a comprehensive toolset for characterising and understanding the behaviour of advanced materials at the nanoscale, this research will drive technological innovations. These innovations will play a crucial role in shaping the development of next-generation solar cells, photoelectronics, semiconductive devices, and other high-tech applications that underpin technological progress and sustainability in the 21st century.