Saiful Islam is Professor of Materials Science at the University of Oxford. He grew up in London and obtained his Chemistry degree and PhD from University College London. He then worked at the Eastman Kodak Labs, New York, and the Universities of Surrey and Bath.
His current research focuses on understanding atomistic and nano-scale processes in perovskite halides for solar cells, and in new materials for lithium batteries. Saiful has received several awards including the 2022 Royal Society Hughes Medal and 2020 American Chemical Society Award in Energy Chemistry. He presented the 2016 BBC Royal Institution Christmas Lectures on the theme of energy and is a Patron of Humanists UK.
He studied electrical engineering in Stuttgart and started working on Si solar cells in 2004 under the guidance of Uwe Rau at the Institute for Physical Electronics (ipe) in Stuttgart. After finishing his undergraduate studies in 2006, he continued working with Uwe Rau first in Stuttgart and later in Juelich on simulations and electroluminescence spectroscopy of solar cells. After finishing his PhD in 2009 and 1.5 years of postdoc work in Juelich, Thomas Kirchartz started a three year fellowship at Imperial College London working on recombination mechanisms in organic solar cells with Jenny Nelson. In 2013, he returned to Germany and accepted a position as head of a new activity on hybrid and organic solar cells in Juelich and simultaneously as Professor for Photovoltaics with Nanostructured Materials in the department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at the University Duisburg-Essen. Kirchartz has published >100 isi-listed papers, has co-edited one book on characterization of thin-film solar cells whose second edition was published in 2016 and currently has an h-index of 38.
Professor Anna Köhler holds a chair of experimental physics at the University of Bayreuth. She received her PhD in 1996 from the University of Cambridge, UK, where she continued her research funded through Research Fellowships by Peterhouse and by the Royal Society. In 2003 she was appointed professor at the University of Potsdam, Germany, from where she moved in 2007 to the University of Bayreuth, Germany. Her research is concerned with photophysical processes in organic and hybrid semiconductors. She focusses in particular on the processes of energy and charge transfer in singlet and triplet excited states, the exciton dissociation mechanism and intermolecular/interchain interactions.
Dr. Yana Vaynzof is the Chair for Emerging Electronic Technologies at the Technical University of Dresden (Germany) and a Director at the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden. She received a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (Israel) in 2006 and a M. Sc. In Electrical Engineering from Princeton University (USA) in 2008. In 2011, she received a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Cambridge (UK). Yana was a postdoctoral research associate at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge (UK) and an assistant professor at Heidelberg University (Germany) from 2014 to 2019. Yana Vaynzof is the recipient of a number of fellowships and awards, including the ERC Starting Grant, ERC Consolidator Grant, Gordon Wu Fellowship, Henry Kressel Fellowship, Fulbright-Cottrell Award and the Walter Kalkhof-Rose Memorial Prize. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the winner of the Energy & Environmental Science Lectureship Award. Her research interests lie in the field of emerging photovoltaics, focusing on the study of material and device physics of organic, quantum dot and perovskite solar cells by integrating device fabrication and characterisation with the application and development of advanced spectroscopic methods.
Docent Moyses Araujo received his PhD degree, in Condensed Matter Physics, from Uppsala University (UU). Thereafter, he has held a postdoc position at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm with a distinguished scholarship from the Swedish Research Council (VR). As a recognition of his work in Sweden, he has won three research awards, viz. Benzelius prize (from the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala), Ångstrom Premium (UU), and Bjurzon’s Premium (the highest award for PhD thesis at UU). In 2011, he has moved for a postdoc in USA, at Yale University, with a prestigious scholarship from the Yale Climate and Energy Institute (YCEI). In 2012, he has returned to Sweden as researcher at UU and in 2014 he has started his independent research group in the same institution with support from VR through the Young Researcher Grant. In 2018 he has become Docent in Physics at Uppsala University. From September 2020, he has joint Karlstad University as universitetslektor/Associate Professor in condensed matter theory.
Udo Bach is a full professor at Monash University in the Department of Chemical Engineering; the Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science and an ANFF-VIC Technology Fellow at the Melbourne Centre of Nanofabrication (MCN). He received his PhD from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL, Switzerland) working in the research group of Prof Michael Grätzel and worked for 3 years in a technology start-up company in Dublin (Ireland). Subsequently he spent 15 months as a postdoc in the group of Prof. Paul Alivisatos in UC Berkeley (USA) before moving to Monash University in November 2005 to establish his own research group.
Prof Bach has a strong background in the area of photovoltaics and nanofabrication. He is involved in fundamental and applied research in the area of perovskite and dye-sensitized solar cells. He has additional research activities in the area of nanofabrication, DNA-directed self-assembly, nanoprinting, plasmonics for sensing, photovoltaic applications and combinatorial photovoltaic materials discovery.
Dr. Annalisa Bruno is an Associate Professor Nanyang Technological University (ERI@N), coordinating a team working on perovskite solar cells and modules by thermal evaporation. Annalisa is also a tenured Scientist at the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA). Previously, Annalisa was a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Imperial College London. Annalisa received her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. Degrees in Physics from the University of Naples Federico II. Her research interests include perovskite light-harvesting and charge generation properties and their implementation in solar cells and optoelectronic devices.
Maria Antonietta Loi studied physics at the University of Cagliari in Italy where she received the PhD in 2001. In the same year she joined the Linz Institute for Organic Solar cells, of the University of Linz, Austria as a postdoctoral fellow. Later she worked as researcher at the Institute for Nanostructured Materials of the Italian National Research Council in Bologna, Italy. In 2006 she became assistant professor and Rosalind Franklin Fellow at the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. She is now full professor in the same institution and chair of the Photophysics and OptoElectronics group.
She has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles on photophysics and optoelectronics of different types of materials.
In 2013 she has received an ERC Starting Grant and in 2022 and ERC Advanced Grant from the European Research Council. She currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Applied Physics Letters and she is member of the international advisory board of several international journals in physics and materials physics. In 2018 she received the Physicaprijs from the Dutch physics association for her outstanding work on organic-inorganic hybrid materials. In 2020 she became fellow of the American Physical Society. In 2022 she was elected fellow of the Dutch Academy of Science (KNAW). In the same year she became fellow of the European Academy of Science (EURASC) and of the Royal Society of Chemistry. In 2025 she became Fellow of the Material Research Society.
Xinhui LuAtsushi Wakamiya received his Ph.D. degree from Kyoto University in 2003. He began his academic carreer at Nagoya University as an assistant professor in 2003. In 2010, he moved to Kyoto University as an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 2018. He received several awards: The Chemical Society of Japan Award for Creative Work (2020), Commendation for Science and Technology by MEXT Japan: Award for Science and Technology Research Category (2022), etc. He is a project leader of the Green Innovation Program (NEDO) and JST-Mirai Program. He is a co-founder and a director (as Chief Scientific Officer, CSO) of “EneCoat Technologies, Co. Ltd.”, a startup company for perovskite solar modules. His research interests include physical organic chemistry, elemental chemistry and materials chemistry.
Prof. Yang Yang The Carol and Lawrence E. Tannas Jr. Endowed Chair in Engineering Department of Materials Science and Engineering, UCLA PhD: Physics and Applied Physics, U-Mass.,Lowell, 1992; Advisors: Prof. Sukant Tripathy (deceased) and Jayant Kumar MS.: Physics and Applied Physics, U-Mass.,Lowell, 1988 Advisor: Prof. Y.Y. Teng (deceased) BS.: Physics, National Cheng-Kung University, Taiwan, 1982 Prof. Yang's major researches are in the solar energy and highly efficient electronic devices. He has more than 230 refereed papers (including book chapters); 43 patents (filed or issued), and 120 invited talks. His H-Index is ~82 as January 2014. His major contribution in the organic solar energy is in the understanding of polymer morphology and the influence on device performance; the invention of inverted organic solar cell, and inverted tandem solar cell; and transparent solar cells. In the past few years, Yang has created several record-high efficiencies in polymeric solar cells. Other researches he participated are: organic memory devices, solution processible graphene, and solution processible CIGS/CZTS solar cells. He has a group of 25 student and postdocs. Since 2001, he has produced 28 PhD degrees, 10 MS degrees; among them, 9 of his students have become faculty. His technology has enabled the formation of 5 startups. Honors and Awards: The Carol and Lawrence E. Tannas Jr. Endowed Chair in Engineering, July 2011 Director, Nano Renewable Energy Center of California NanoSystem Inst., UCLA. (2007-now) Top Hot Researcher in 2010, Science Watch (published by Thomas Reuters) Highest cited Paper in 2010, Advanced Functional Materials Highest cited Paper in 2008-2010, Journal of American Chemical Society (JACS) IEEE Photovoltaic Field Expert, 2009. Semiconductor Research Association Invention Award 2008. NSF Career Award: 1998; 3M Young Investigator Award, 1998. Professional EXPERIENCE UCLA (1997-present): The Carol and Lawrence E. Tannas Jr. Endowed Chair in Engineering, July 2011 Nano Renewable Energy Center, California Nano-System Institute, Director, (2007-present). Materials Science and Engineering, Professor (02-now), Asso. Prof. (98-02), Asst. Prof. (97-98) EFL Tech. (Brisbane, Australia), Chair of Scientific Advisory Board (2012-present) EFL Tech is a startup to commercialize the transparent solar cell for portable electronics. Solarmer Energy Inc., Chief Scientist (2006-present) Solarmer Energy Inc. is a startup co-funded by Yang, their business is in the commercialization of polymer solar cells. 1992-1996, UNIAX Corporation (now Du Pont Display) in Santa Barbara Postdoc (92 -93; advisor: Prof. Alan Heeger, Nobel Laureate, 2000) and Staff Scientist (93-96) Participated in research on polymer LEDs, transistors, and conducting polymers. 1991-1992, University of California-Riverside, Chemistry Department Postdoc (supervisor: Prof. B. Kohler (deceased)) Laser spectroscopy and hole-burning experiments. Prof. Yang's Selective Publications His H-index is ~82 as of January 2014 (1) High-efficiency solution processable polymer photovoltaic cells by self-organization of polymer blends, Gang Li, Vishal Shrotriya, Jinsong Huang, Yan Yao, Tom Moriarty, Keith Emery and Yang Yang, Nature Materials Volume: 4 Issue: 11, 864-868, 2005 Times Cited: 2002 (2) Polymer solar cells with enhanced open-circuit voltage and efficiency, Hsiang-Yu Chen, Jianhui Hou, Shaoqing Zhang, Yongye Liang, Guanwen Yang, Yang Yang, Luping Yu, Yue Wu and Gang Li., Nature Photonics, 3, 11, Pages: 649-653, 2009 Times Cited: 427 (3) Programmable polymer thin film and non-volatile memory device, Jianyong Ouyang, Chih-Wei Chu, Charles R. Szmanda, Liping Ma, Yang Yang, Nature Materials, 3, 12, 918-922, 2004 Times Cited: 322 (4) Polyaniline nanofiber/gold nanoparticle nonvolatile memory, Ricky Jia-Hung Tseng, Jiaxing Huang, Jianyong Ouyang, Richard B. Kaner, and Yang Yang, Nano Letters, 5, 6, 1077-1080, 2005 Times Cited: 319 (5) Synthesis, Characterization, and Photovoltaic Properties of a Low Band Gap Polymer Based on Silole-Containing Polythiophenes and 2,1,3-Benzothiadiazole, Jianhui Hou, Hsiang-Yu Chen, Shaoqing Zhang, Gang Li, and Yang Yang., Journal of the American Chemical Society, 130, 48, 16144-16145, 2008 Times Cited: 284 (6) High-throughput solution processing of large-scale graphene, Vincent C. Tung, Matthew J. Allen, Yang Yang and Richard B. Kaner., Nature Nanotechnology, 4, 1, 25-29, 2009 Times Cited: 254 (7) "Solvent annealing" effect in polymer solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) and methanofullerenes, Gang Li, Yan Yao, Hoichang Yang, Vishal Shrotriya, Guanwen Yang, and Yang Yang, Advanced Functional Materials, 17, 10, 1636-1644, 2007, Times Cited: 254 (8) Investigation of annealing effects and film thickness dependence of polymer solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene), Gang Li, Vishal Shrotriya, Yan Yao, and Yang Yang., Journal of Applied Physics, 98, 4, 043704(5 pages), 2005 , Times Cited: 229 (9) Recent Progress in Polymer Solar Cells: Manipulation of Polymer: Fullerene Morphology and the Formation of Efficient Inverted Polymer Solar Cells, Li-Min Chen, Ziruo Hong, Gang Li, and Yang Yang, Advanced Materials ,21, 14, 1434-1449, : 2009, Times Cited: 196 (10) Accurate measurement and characterization of organic solar cells, Vishal Shrotriya, Gang Li, Yan Yao, Tom Moriarty, Keith Emery, and Yang Yang., Advanced Functional Materials, 16, 15, 2016-2023, 2006 , Times Cited: 181 (11) Low-Temperature Solution Processing of Graphene-Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Materials for High-Performance Transparent Conductors; Tung, VC; Chen, LM; Allen, MJ; Kaner, R., and Yang, Y., Nano Letters, 9 (5), 1949-1955 (2009); Times Cited: 114 (12) Synthesis of a Low Band Gap Polymer and Its Application in Highly Efficient Polymer Solar Cells; Hou, JH; Chen, HY; Zhang, SQ; Yang, Y.et al; JACS, 131(43), 15586- 629 (2009); Times Cited: 136 (13) Effect of solvent mixture on the nanoscale phase separation in polymer solar cells; Yao, Y; Hou, JH; Xu, Z; Li, G., Yang, Y.; Adv. Func. Mat., 18, 1783-1789 (2008). Times Cited: 106 (14) Manipulating regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene): [6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester blends - route towards high efficiency polymer solar cells; Li, G; Shrotriya, V; Yao, Y; Huang, J., Yang, Y.; Journal of Materials Chemistry, 17 (30), 3126-3140 (2007), Times Cited: 120 (15) Patterning organic single-crystal transistor arrays, A. L. Briseno, S. Mannsfeld, M. M. Ling, S. Liu, R. J. Tseng, C. Reese, M. E. Roberts, Y. Yang, Z. Bao; Nature, 444, 913, (2006). Times Cited: 272 (16) Digital memory device based on tobacco mosaic virus conjugated with nanoparticles; Tseng, RJ; Tsai, CL; Ma, LP; Ouyang, J., Ozkan, C.S., Yang, Y.; Nature Nanotech, 1, 72, (2006) Times Cited: 145 (17) Efficient inverted polymer solar cells; Li, G; Chu, CW; Shrotriya, V; Huang, J., and Yang, Y. Appl. Phys. Lett., 88, Pages: 253503-253505 (2006), Times Cited: 85 (18) Regioregular copolymers of 3-alkoxythiophene and their photovoltaic application; Shi, CJ; Yao, Y; Yang, Y; Pei, Q.; JACS, 128, 27, p. 8980-8986 (2006); Times Cited: 137 (19) Electrical switching and bistability in organic/polymeric thin films and memory devices, Yang, Y; Ouyang, J; Ma, LP; et al.; Adv. Func. Mat. 16, 1001-1014 (2006). Times Cited: 184 (20) Achieving high-efficiency polymer white-light-emitting devices; Huang, JS; Li, G; Wu, E; Yang, Y.Adv. Mat. 18, 114-117, (2006). Times Cited: 163 (21) Transition metal oxides as the buffer layer for polymer photovoltaic cells; Shrotriya, V; Li, G; Yao, Y; Yang, Y.; Applied Physics Letters: 88(7), Pages: 073508-510 (2006); Times Cited: 132 (22) High-performance organic thin-film transistors with metal oxide/metal bilayer electrode; Chu, C.W., Li, S-H., Chen, C-W., Shrotriya, V., & Yang, Y., Appl. Phys. Lett., 87,193508 (2005) Times Cited: 100 (23) Investigation of annealing effects and film thickness dependence of polymer solar cells based on P3HT; Li, G; Shrotriya, V; Yao, Y; & Yang, Y., JAP 98, 043704, (2005). Times Cited: 229 (24) Organic donor-acceptor system exhibiting electrical bistability for use in memory devices; Chu, CW; Ouyang, J; Tseng, HH; Yang, Y.; Adv. Mat. 17 (11) p. 1440 (2005) Times Cited: 140 (25) Nonvolatile electrical bistability of organic/metal-nanocluster/organic system, Ma, LP; Pyo, S; Ouyang, J; Yang, Y., Appl. Phys. Lett. 82, 1419-21, (2003). Times Cited: 213 (26) High-performance polymer light-emitting diodes doped with a red phosphorescent iridium complex, Chen, FC; Yang, Y; Thompson, ME; Appl. Phys. Lett., 80, 2308 (2002). Times Cited: 155 (27) Organic electrical bistable devices and rewritable memory cells, Ma, LP; Liu, J; Yang, Y; Applied Physics Letters, 80, 16, p. 2997-2999 (2002). Times Cited: 260 (28) Solvation-induced morphology effects on the performance of polymer-based photovoltaic devices, Liu, J; Shi, YJ; Yang, Y, Adv. Func. Mat., 11 (6), p. 420-424, (2001), Times Cited: 150 (29) Device performance and polymer morphology in polymer light emitting diodes: The control of device electrical properties and metal/polymer contact, Liu, J; Shi, YJ; Ma, LP; Yang, Y J. Appl. Phys., 88, 605, (2000). Times Cited: 95 (30) Device performance and polymer morphology in polymer light emitting diodes: : the control of thin film morphology and device quantum efficiency;; Shi, Y; Liu, J; Yang, Y; J. Appl. Phys., 87, 4254 (2000). Times Cited: 249 (31) Polymer electroluminescent devices processed by inkjet printing: I. Polymer light-emitting logo, Bharathan, J; Yang, Y, Appl. Phys. Lett., 72, 2660, (1998). Times Cited: 255 (Citation number is from: www.researchid.com)
Kai Zhu is currently a senior scientist in the Chemistry and Nanoscience Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He received his PhD degree in physics from Syracuse University in 2003. Before this position, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Basic Science Center at NREL, focusing on fundamental charge carrier conduction and recombination in photoelectrochemical cells, especially dye-sensitized solar cells. Dr. Zhu’s research on dye-sensitized solar cells involves the development of advanced electrode materials/architectures, basic understanding of charge transport and recombination processes in these electrodes, and thin-film solar cell development/characterization/modeling. His recent research has centered on both basic and applied research on perovskite solar cells, including perovskite material development, device fabrication and characterization, and basic understanding of charge carrier dynamics in these cells. In addition to solar conversion applications, his research interests have also included III-Nitride wide-bandgap semiconductors for high-power blue and UV light emitting diodes and ordered nanostructured electrodes for Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors.