Organic materials, typically polymers or small organic molecules, are known for their flexibility, low cost, and lightweight properties. They can be solution-processed, allowing for inexpensive large-scale production through techniques like roll-to-roll printing. However, organic solar cells often suffer from lower efficiency and stability compared to their inorganic counterparts.

Inorganic materials, such as NiO, TiO2, and SnO2, dominate the commercial solar cell market due to their higher efficiency and stability. NiO, in particular, is cheap to synthesis in laboratory condition and has been extensively optimized for solar applications, leading to highly efficient inverted perovskite solar panels. Tuning the size and shape of the materials aloow band alignment with perovskite solar cells and improve the performance.

Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) has great interests from many researchers because of PSCs’ fascinated properties like high absorption coefficient and carrier mobility, long carrier diffusion length, tunable band gap and low exciton binding energy. The power conversion efficiency of PSCs advanced from an initial 3.8% to a certified 25.7% by the solution processing. Recently, to study PSCs’ high performance and stability, many researchers have tried to get better the quality of perovskite film and change the perovskite compositions and devices’ structures. Our group try to find a highly stable and efficient PSC. 

Batteries, fundamental energy storage devices, are instrumental in powering our modern world. They store electrical energy, making it accessible for various applications, from cell phones to electric vehicles. Sodium ion batteries (Na-ion batteries), a specific type of rechargeable battery, function by moving sodium ions between the anode and cathode during charge and discharge cycles. These batteries are gaining significance due to their potential to provide sustainable energy storage solutions. Sodium, being a widely available and cost-effective element, positions Na-ion batteries as a promising alternative to the more established lithium-ion counterparts. Nonetheless, challenges persist. Our research endeavors focus on improving Na-ion batteries by fine-tuning the choice of materials, refining the working mechanisms, and exploring innovative designs. We aim to improve their performance, safety, and efficiency, ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. 

A sensor is a device that measures a chemical or physical event and produces a corresponding signal that can be read by an observer or an instrument. Broadly, sensors can be divided into physical (e.g., temperature, pressure, magnetic field) and chemical (e.g., NOx, H2S) sensing devices. The driving forces for advancement in sensing technology include reducing cost, reducing size, improving performance, realizing new functionalities, and achieving autonomous self-powering devices, as a part of Internet-of-Things (IoT). Our research in this area is currently focused on chemical sensing, where there is a strong need for miniaturized, low-power gas sensors that can be deployed in wireless applications for improved environmental protection, energy efficiency, public health, and safe and efficient operation of many industrial processes. We leverage the advances made in micro-/nanofabrication technologies and innovations in nanomaterials to help address this need.