The research fellow

Francesco Di Stasio completed an MSc degree in material science in 2008 at the University of Genoa, Italy. Before starting the PhD in Physics at University College London, he worked as a research assistant at the University of Genoa in the group of Prof. Davide Comoretto, where he studied three-dimensional photonic crystals. From January 2009 to December 2011, he carried out a PhD in Physics at the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London under the supervision of Prof. Franco Cacialli. His PhD was funded by two different European projects in the field of organic electronics: Marie Curie FP6 RTN-THREADMILL and the FP7 ONE-P large-scale project. At the beginning of 2012 he joined Cambridge Display Technology Ltd. (CDT, January 2012 – March 2013), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Co. dedicated to the development and commercialization of conjugated polymers for polymeric organic light-emitting diodes (P-OLEDs). During this period, he had the opportunity to work on state-of-the-art P-OLEDs and to optimize their performance, achieving an in-depth knowledge of fundamental processes governing these devices. In April 2013, he joined the Nanochemistry Department at the Italian Institute of Technology as a postdoctoral researcher under the supervision of Prof. Roman Krahne. Here, his research focus shifted from conjugated polymers to inorganic colloidal nanocrystals for the fabrication of lasers and other optoelectronic devices.

In 2015, Francesco successfully applied for Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions Individual Fellowship (“NANOPTO”, project H2020-MSCA-IF-2015-703018, score: 94.6%) and in September 2016 he moved to the The Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) in Barcelona to work, once again, on optoelectronic applications of colloidal inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals under the supervision of Prof. Gerasimos Konstantatos.

Work experience:

Post-doctoral research associate – from April 2013 to August 2016, Nanochemistry department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa (Italy)

Scientist, device physics – from January 2012 to March 2013, Cambridge Display Technology ltd (Sumitomo chemical Group), Cambridge (United Kingdom)

Research assistant – from April 2008 to December 2008, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Università degli studi di Genova, Genoa (Italy)

Education:

PhD in Physics (Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher) – from January 2009 to December 2011, Department of Physics and Astronomy and London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London (United Kingdom)

M. Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering – from September 2005 to March 2008, Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry and Department of Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa (Italy), final mark 110/110 cum laude

B. Sc. in Materials Science – from September 2002 to September 2005, Department of Physics and Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Genoa (Italy), final mark 110/110 cum laude

Research Publications:

1. S. Pradhan, F. Di Stasio, Y. Bi, S. Gupta, S. Christodoulou, A. Stavrinadis, G. Konstantatos “Highly Efficient Colloidal Quantum Dot Short-Wave Infrared Light Emitting Diodes via Engineering at the Supra-Nanocrystalline Level” accepted, (2018)
2. S. Christodoulou*, F. Di Stasio*, S. Pradhan, A. Stavrinadis, G. Konstantatos “High open circuit voltage solar cells based on bright mixed-halide CsPbBrI₂ perovskite nanocrystals synthesized in ambient air conditions” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 122, 7621-7626 (2018) (*equal contribution)
3. F. Di Stasio, I. Ramiro*, Y. Bi*, S. Christodoulou, A. Stavrinadis, G. Konstantatos “High-Efficiency Light-Emitting Diodes based on Formamidinium lead bromide nanocrystals and solution processed transport layers” Chemistry of Materials, 30, 6231-6235 (2018) (*equal contribution)
4. G. Manfredi, P. Lova, F. Di Stasio, P. Rastogi, R. Krahne, D. Comoretto “Lasing from colloidal dot-in-rod nanocrystals in all-polymer planar microcavities” RSC Advances, 8, 13026 (2018)
5. P. Rastogi, F. Palazon, M. Prato, F. Di Stasio, R. Krahne “Enhancing the performance of CdSe/CdS Dot-in-Rod light emitting diodes via surface ligand modification” ACS Applied Surface & Interfaces, 10, 5665-5672 (2018)
6. G. Manfredi, P. Lova, F. Di Stasio, R. Krahne, D. Comoretto “Directional Fluorescence Spectral Narrowing in All-Polymer Microcavities Doped with CdSe/CdS Dot-in-Rod Nanocrystals” ACS Photonics, 4, 1761–1769 (2017)
7. F. Di Stasio*, S. Christodoulou*, N. Huo, G. Konstantatos “Near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield in CsPbBr3 nanocrystal solid-state films via post-synthesis treatment with lead bromide” Chemistry of Materials, 29, 7663-7667 (2017) (*equal contribution)
8. F. Di Stasio, M. Imran, Q. A. Akkerman, M. Prato, L. Manna, R. Krahne “Reversible concentration dependent photoluminescence quenching and change of emission color in CsPbBr3 nanowires and nanoplatelets” Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 8, 2725-2729 (2017)
9. S. Pradhan, A. Stavrinadis, S. Gupta, Y. Bi, F. Di Stasio, G. Konstantatos “Simultaneous improvement of charge transport and emissive in-gap traps reduction in PbS quantum dot based solar cells with mixed ligand treatments” Small, 13, 1700598 (2017)
10. M. Miscuglio*, M. Lin*, F. Di Stasio, P.-H Tan, R. Krahne ^“Confined Acoustic Phonons in Colloidal Nanorod Heterostrucures Investigated by Non-resonant Raman Spectroscopy and Finite Elements Simulations”, Nano Letters, 16, 7664–7670 (2016) (*equal contribution)
11. Q. A. Akkerman*, M. Gandini*, F. Di Stasio, P. Rastogi, F. Palazon, G. Bertoni, M. Prato, A. Petrozza, L. Manna “Strongly Emissive Perovskite Nanocrystals Inks for High Voltage Solar Cells”, Nature Energy, 2, 16194 (2016) (*equal contribution)
12. F. Di Stasio*, A. Polovitsyn*, I. Angeloni, I. Moreels, R. Krahne, “Broadband amplified spontaneous emission and random lasing from wurtzite CdSe/CdS “giant-shell” nanocrystals”, ACS Photonics, 3, 2083-2088 (2016) (*equal contribution)
13. F. Palazon, F. Di Stasio, S. Lauciello, R. Krahne, M. Prato, L. Manna “Evolution of CsPbBr₃ Nanocrystals Upon Post-Synthesis Annealing Under Inert Atmosphere”, Journal of Material Chemistry C, 4, 9179-9182 (2016)
14. M. Imran, F. Di Stasio, Z. Dang, C. Canale, A. Hossain Khan, J. Shamsi, R. Brescia, M. Prato, L. Manna “Colloidal Synthesis of Strongly Fluorescent CsPbBr₃ Nanowires with Width Tunable Down to the Quantum-Confined Regime”, Chemistry of Materials, 28, 6450-6454 (2016)
15. T. Gatti, S. Casaluci, M. Prato, M. Salerno, F. Di Stasio, A. Ansaldo, E. Menna, A. Di Carlo, F. Bonaccorso “Boosting Perovskite Solar Cells Performance and Stability through Doping a Poly-3(hexylthiophene) Hole Transporting Material with Organic Functionalized Carbon Nanostructures”, Advanced Functional Materials, 26, 7443-7453 (2016)
16. J. Shamsi, Z. Dang, P. Bianchini, C. Canale, F. Di Stasio, R. Brescia, M. Prato, L. Manna “Colloidal Synthesis of Quantum Confined Single Crystal CsPbBr₃ nanosheets with Lateral Size Control up to the micrometer Range”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 138, 7240-7243 (2016)
17. F. Palazon, F. Di Stasio, Q. A. Akkerman, R. Krahne, M. Prato, L. Manna, “Polymer-free films of inorganic halide perovskite nanocrystals as UV-to-white color-conversion layers in LEDs”, Chemistry of Materials, 28, 2902-2906 (2016)
18. M. P. Arciniegas*, F. Di Stasio*, H. Li, D. Altamura, L. De Trizio, M. Prato, A. Scarpellini, I. Moreels, R. Krahne, L. Manna, “Self-Assembled Dense Colloidal Cu₂Te Nanodisk Networks in P3HT Thin Films with Enhanced Photocurrent”, Advanced Functional Materials, 26, 4535-4542 (2016) (*equal contribution)
19. S. Vikulov*, F. Di Stasio*, L. Ceseracciu, P. L. Saldanha, A. Scarpellini, Z. Dang, R. Krahne, L. Manna, V. Lesnyak, “Fully Solution-Processed Conductive Films Based on Colloidal Copper Selenide Nanosheets for Flexible Electronics”, Advanced Functional Materials, 26, 3670-3677 (2016) (*equal contribution)
20. A. Accardo, F. Di Stasio, M. Burghammer, C. Riekel, R. Krahne, “Nanocrystal self-assembly into hollow dome-shaped microstructures by slow solvent evaporation on superhydrophobic substrates”, Particle & Particle Systems Characterization, 32, 524-528 (2015) – with front cover
21. P. Li, F. Di Stasio, G. Eda, O. Fenwick, S. O. McDonnell, H. L. Anderson, M. Chhowalla, F. Cacialli, “Luminescent properties of a water-soluble conjugated polymer incorporating graphene oxide quantum dots”, ChemPhysChem, 16, 1258-1262 (2015)
22. F. Di Stasio, J.Q. Grim, V. Lesnyak, P. Rastogi, L. Manna, I. Moreels, R. Krahne, “Single-mode lasing from colloidal water-soluble CdSe/CdS quantum dot-in-rods”, Small, 11, 1328-1334 (2015)
23. J.Q. Grim, S. Christodoulou, F. Di Stasio, R. Krahne, R. Cingolani, L. Manna, I. Moreels, “Continuous-Wave biexciton lasing at room temperature using solution-processed quantum wells”, Nature Nanotechnology, 9, 891-895 (2014)
24. F. Di Stasio, L. Berti, S. O. McDonnell, V. Robbiano, H. L. Anderson, D. Comoretto, F. Cacialli. “Fluorescent polystyrene photonic crystals self-assembled with water-soluble conjugated polyrotaxanes”, APL materials, 1, 042116 (2013)
25. O. Fenwick, S. Fusco, T. N. Baig, F. Di Stasio, T. Steckler, P. Henriksson, C. Fléchon, M. R. Andersson, and F. Cacialli “Diketopyrrolopyrrole co-polymerised with a polyfluorene for efficient red electroluminescence”, APL materials, 1, 032108 (2013)
26. S. Kasiouli, F. Di Stasio, S.O. McDonnell, H.L. Anderson, F. Cacialli, S. C. Hayes. "Resonance Raman investigation of β-Cyclodextrin encapsulated π-conjugated polymers”, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 117, 5737-5747 (2013)
27. V. Robbiano, M. Giordano, C. Martella, F. Di Stasio, D. Chiappe, F. Buatier de Mongeot, D. Comoretto. “Hybrid plasmonic-photonic nanostructures: Gold nanocrescents over opals”, Advanced Optical Materials, 1, 389-396 (2013)
28. S. Kervyn, O. Fenwick, F. Di Stasio, Y.S. Shin, J. Wouters, G. Accorsi, S. Osella, D. Beljonne, F. Cacialli and D. Bonifazi. "Polymorphism, fluorescence and optoelectronic properties of a Borazine derivative”, Chemistry – A European Journal, 19, 7771-7779 (2013)
29. N. Crivillers, S. Osella, C. Van Dyck, G. M. Lazzerini, D. Cornil, A. Liscio, F. Di Stasio, S. Mian, O. Fenwick, F. Reinders, M. Neuburger, E. Treossi, M. Mayor, V. Palermo, F. Cacialli, J. Cornil, P. Samorì, “Large work function shift of Gold induced by a novel Perfluorinated Azobenzene-based self-assembled monolayer” Advanced Materials, 2, 432-436 (2013)
30. G. Brambilla, M. Ding, J. Ou, N. Sessions, O. Fenwick, F. Di Stasio, F. Cacialli, J-L. Kou, F. Xu, "Sub-wavelength focusing of high intensities in microfibre tips”. Photonics (ICP), 2012 IEEE 3rd International Conference on, 404-408 (2012)
31. G. M. Lazzerini, S. Mian, F. Di Stasio, A. Merari Masillamani, N. Crivillers, F. Reinders, M. Mayor, P. Samorì, F. Cacialli, “Increased efficiency of light-emitting diodes incorporating anodes functionalized with fluorinated azobenzene monolayers and a green-emitting polyfluorene derivative” Applied Physics Letters, 101, 153306 (2012)
32. M. Ding, O. Fenwick, F. Di Stasio, J.-Y. Ou, N. Sessions, Y. Jung, F. Cacialli, G. Brambilla, “Efficient light confinement with nanostructured optical microfiber tips” Optics Communications, 285, 4688-4697 (2012)
33. G. M. Lazzerini, F. Di Stasio, C. Flechon, D. Caruana, F. Cacialli, “Low-temperature treatment of semiconducting interlayers for high-efficiency light-emitting diodes based on a green-emitting polyfluorene derivative” Applied Physics Letters, 99, 243305 (2011)
34. N. Crivillers, A. Liscio, F. Di Stasio, C. Van Dyck, S. Osella, D. Cornil, S. Mian, G. M. Lazzerini, O. Fenwick, E. Orgiu, F. Reinders, S. Braun, M. Fahlman, M. Mayor, J. Cornil, V. Palermo, F. Cacialli, P. Samorì, “Photoinduced work function changes by isomerization of a densely packed azobenzene-based SAM on Au: a joint experimental and theoretical study” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 13, 14302 (2011)
35. F. Di Stasio, P. Korniychuk, S. Brovelli, P. Uznanski, S. O. McDonnell, G. Winroth, H. L. Anderson, A. Tracz, F. Cacialli, “Highly polarized emission from oriented films incorporating water-soluble conjugated polymers in a Polyvinyl Alcohol matrix” Advanced Materials, 23, 1855-1859 (2011) – with inside front cover
36. O. Fenwick, J. K. Sprafke, J. Binas, D. V. Kondratuk, F. Di Stasio, H. L. Anderson, F. Cacialli, “Linear and cyclic Porphyrin hexamers as near-infrared emitters in organic light-emitting diodes” Nano Letters, 11, 2451-2456 (2011)
37. L. Berti, M. Cucini, F. Di Stasio, D. Comoretto, M. Galli, F. Marabelli, N. Manfredi, C. Marinzi, A. Abbotto, “Spectroscopic investigation of artificial opals infiltrated with a heteroaromatic quadrupolar dye” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 114, 2403 (2010)
38. S. Brovelli, H. Guan, G. Winroth, O. Fenwick, F. Di Stasio, R. Daik, W. J. Feast, F. Meinardi, F. Cacialli, “White luminescence from single-layer devices of nonresonant polymer blends” Applied Physics Letters, 96, 213301 (2010)
39. F. Di Stasio, L. Berti, M. Burger, F. Marabelli, S. Gardin, T. Dainese, R. Signorini, R. Bozio, D. Comoretto, “Amplified spontaneous emission from opal photonic crystals engineered with structural defects” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 11, 11515 (2009)
40. F. Di Stasio, M. Cucini, D. Comoretto, A. Abbotto, L. Bellotto, N. Manfredi, C. Marinzi, “Tuning optical properties of opal photonic crystals by structural defects engineering” Journal of the European Optical society: Rapid Publications, 4, 09033 (2009)

Book Chapters:

1. F. Di Stasio, S. Brovelli, S. Hayes, F. Cacialli, “Polyrotaxanes (conjugated)” Encyclopedia of Polymeric Nanomaterials, 2047-2059 (2015) edited by S. Kobayashi, K. Müllen
2. V. Robbiano, F. Di Stasio, S. Surdo, S. Mian, G. Barillaro, F. Cacialli, “Conjugated Polymers Photonic Structures” Organic and Hybrid Photonic Crystals, 339-358 (2015) edited by D. Comoretto

Patents:

1. F. Jakobsson, C. Nielsen, J. Pillow, F. Di Stasio, E. Snedden, “Organic light-emitting composition, device and method” (GB2508409) granted
2. M. Pintani, I. Johnson, F. Di Stasio, M. Humphries, J. Pillow, R. Pegington, J. Morey “Organic light-emitting composition, device and method” (GB2529668A) pending
3. I. P. W. R. R. Moreels, J. Q. G. T. C. Grim, F. Di Stasio, S. Christodoulou, R. M. Krahne, L. Manna, R. Cingolani “Continuous-wave pumped colloidal nanocrystal laser” (WO2015186033A1) pending

Prizes and awards:

1. Best Student poster presentation at European Optical Society Annual Meeting, 2010
2. MARSHALL STONEHAM PRIZE for Outstanding Postgraduate Research Physics, Condensed matter and material physics, 2012
3. AIS-UK Young Researcher Award, Physical sciences and engineering, 2014