Welcome to the group of hybrid materials and advanced interface!

The mission of our group at UNSW is twofold: one is to explore novel nanomaterials, thin films and hybrid heterostructures, with a focus on their electronic, magnetic and optical functionalities, aiming to solve problems in the domains of energy and electronics research; the other is to cultivate young leaders for enabling innovations in both industries and academic institutions. 

Materials discovery and structure-property correlations

Hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskites have emerged as a new class of optoelectronic materials for photovoltaic applications due to their remarkable properties including high optical absorption coefficients, ambipolar charge-carrier mobilities and unique defect tolerance. We develop strategies to grow single crystals and mixed-dimensional composite to enhance physical properties and ambient stability. A recent focus is to investigate doping and phase segregation in composition-engineered perovskites. Finally, our group explores alternative halide semiconductors including lead-free and non-perovskite materials.

Representative publications

“A 0D Lead‐Free Hybrid Crystal with Ultralow Thermal Conductivity”, Advanced Functional Materials 29, 1809166 (2019);
“One-Step Vapor-Phase Synthesis and Quantum-Confined Exciton in Single-Crystal Platelets of Hybrid Halide Perovskites”, The journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 10, 2363 (2019).

perovskite
UNSW

Optoelectronics and nanocomposites 

We work on high-performance optoelectronic devices such as photovoltaic cell, phototransistor, photo-electrocatalysis based on thin films, nanomaterials and nanocomposites. We investigate the effects of ferroelectric polarisation, ion migration and external magnetic fields, aiming to unravel the underlying physics and to enhance device performance.

Representative publications

“Narrow bandgap oxide nanoparticles coupled with graphene for high performance mid-infrared photodetection”, Nature Communications 9, 4299 (2018);
“All-inorganic perovskite nanocrystal scintillators”, Nature 561, 88 (2018).

Optoelectronics and nanocomposites
UNSW

Electronics, memories and interfaces 

New materials and nanostructures are explored for electronic and memory applications via leveraging on their unique properties such as strong light-matter coupling, extremely broadband absorption and rapid charge transport. As an example, photomemories are fabricated using perovskite/metal multilayers, combining photodetector and memory in a monolithic device. Furthermore, strategies of bottom-up synthesis and lithography patterning are developed for device integration.

Representative publications

“Light‐responsive ion‐redistribution‐induced resistive switching in hybrid perovskite Schottky junctions”, Advanced Functional Materials 28 (3), 1704665 (2018);
“Ambipolar solution-processed hybrid perovskite phototransistors”, Nature Communications 6, 8238 (2015)

Perovskite-quantam-dot
UNSW

Team

Recent publications