Semiconductor and metal nanocrystals (NCs) are widely recognized as key players for the next generation of photonics and optoelectronics, due to their superior optical and electronic properties, solution processability and facile integration in devices. However, to reach down-to-earth commercial applications, fundamental aspects concerning their chemistry, photo-physics and role in optoelectronic platforms still need to be addressed.
#NCAdv27 aims to foster multidisciplinary discussions on the latest advances and challenges related to visible and infrared colloidal chalcogenide, III-V and halide perovskite nanomaterials. The symposium will gather for the third time the nanoscience community to exchange ideas and showcase discussion on synthetic strategies, surface chemistry, photo-physics and novel approaches to photonics and optoelectronics from an experimental and computational perspective.
- Chemistry and structural characterization of NCs: synthesis, surface chemistry and ligand engineering, structural and compositional analysis, doping strategies.
- Optical and electronic properties of NCs: band structure, charge-carrier and spin dynamics, charge transport.
- Application of NCs in photonics and optoelectronics: quantum and classical emission, photodetection, lasing, photocatalysis, photovoltaics, scintillators, operational and environmental stability.
Hossein earned his PhD in Electronic Engineering, specializing in nanocrystal-based infrared optoelectronic devices. He later joined the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) as a postdoctoral researcher, where he worked for three years. He continued his research in IIT’s Nanochemistry group as a Technologist (staff researcher). In 2025, he was awarded the Young Investigator Group Preparation Program by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany), and more recently, he received a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of St Andrews (UK).
His research focuses on the development of advanced quantum materials for optoelectronic applications, with particular emphasis on infrared light-emitting devices, and photodetectors.
Matteo Zaffalon is a Postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Materials Science of the University of Milano-Bicocca (IT), where he earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Nanotechnology in 2022. In 2020 he collaborated with the Nanotechnology & Advanced Spectroscopy group at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (NM, USA) working on the spectroscopic investigation of solution grown functional nanostructures for application in photonic and optoelectronic devices. His research is now focused on the spectroscopic investigation and development of novel nanomaterials for the ultrafast detection and conversion of ionising radiation for energy and medical imaging applications.
Dr. Mojtaba Abdi-Jalebi (FIMMM, FHEA, UKYA, GYA) is an Associate Professor in Energy Materials at the Institute for Materials Discovery within the Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at University College London (UCL). He earned his BSc in Materials Science and Engineering from Sharif University of Technology in 2012 and completed his MSc in Materials Science and Engineering at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland in 2014. In 2018, Dr. Abdi-Jalebi received his PhD in Physics from the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, where he was honored with the 2018 Semiconductor Physics Thesis Prize by the Institute of Physics. From 2018 to 2020, he served as a Junior Research Fellow at Cambridge University and Wolfson College, Cambridge. During this time, he established a spin-out company focused on developing energy harvesting devices based on emerging semiconductors. In November 2019, Mojtaba established his research group at UCL, concentrating on the material and electronic properties of emerging semiconductors such as halide perovskites, small molecules, and organic semiconductors. The group's research is dedicated to optoelectronic and electrochemical devices for low-cost electronics applications, including solar photovoltaics and lighting, as well as energy systems supporting carbon capture and the production of solar fuels. Dr. Abdi-Jalebi's overarching research goal is to introduce new, cost-effective materials into energy devices, ultimately reshaping the energy landscape. His work aims to contribute to the transition to a net-zero future by reducing the cost of green energy production, consumption, and storage. Mojtaba is Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM), member of Global Young Academy (GYA), member of UK Young Academy (UKYA) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
You can find my publications, media activities and details of ongoing projects on my research group webpage (https://www.mojtabaabdijalebi.com/) and my LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mojtabaabdi/).
Danang Birowosuto is a research area leader of “Photonic Materials” in Łukasiewicz – PORT. He received his Master and PhD degrees from University of Groningen and Delft University of Technology, respectively. After graduation, he was appointed as a postdoctoral researcher at University of Twente, Netherlands, and then, a researcher at Nippon Telephone Telegraph, Japan. In both places, he was active in research of Photonics and Nanotechnology with major interests including luminescence, scintillation, disordered materials, photonic crystals, plasmonic antennas, single photon sources, lasers, and telecom wavelength applications. Prior the position at Łukasiewicz – PORT, he joined CNRS International-NTU-Thales Research Alliance, Singapore, as principal researcher and program manager. There, he pioneered projects on perovskite halide scintillators and perovskite photonics. In total, he has 5 World and US patents with more than 100 journals. He is a member of many academic societies, senior member Optica, and also an active journal referee like in Nature, Optica, and American Chemical Society
Arjan Houtepen obtained his PhD Cum Laude under supervision of prof. Vanmaekelbergh at Utrecht University and subsequently became tenure track assistant professor in Delft. In 2009/2010 he was a visiting scientist in the group of prof. Feldmann in Munich. At present he is associate professor in the optoelectronic materials section at Delft University.
James Utterback’s research focuses on ultrafast optical spectroscopy and microscopy of energy relaxation and transport in materials for optoelectronic, photochemistry, and phase change applications.
CNRS Researcher | Researcher; Institute of Nanosciences of Paris; Sorbonne University | 2023 – present
Postdoctoral Fellow | Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow; University of California, Berkeley | 2019 – 2022
PhD in Chemistry | NSF Graduate Research Fellow; University of Colorado, Boulder | 2013 – 2018
B.S. in Physics | Goldwater Scholar & Undergraduate Research Fellow; University of Oregon | 2007 – 2011