Speaker:
Prof. Mojtaba Abdi-Jalebi, University College London.
Tittle: Advanced Functional Materials from Nanoscale Interfaces to Scalable Photovoltaics and Solar Fuels
Time: 14:30 September 29th, 2026 (Tuesday)
Venue: Conference Room No.4, Building No.5
Host: Prof. Huan Meng
Abstract:
The transition to a net-zero future demands innovative, scalable technologies for both renewable electricity generation and the green synthesis of fuels and chemicals. This talk presents our comprehensive research on the rational design and nanoscale engineering of advanced functional materials, bridging the gap between fundamental laboratory discoveries and industrial-scale applications in optoelectronics and energy conversion.
The first part of the presentation focuses on metal halide perovskite photovoltaics, where physical and chemical interfaces dictate operational stability and efficiency. By addressing buried heterojunctions through a multifunctional polymer matrix (sodium hyaluronate) to disperse SnO₂ nanoparticles, we achieve uniform, strain-relaxed films with eliminated oxygen vacancies, yielding a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 25%. Furthermore, we explore the evolutionary dynamics of 2D/3D surface heterojunctions under long-term operation, demonstrating how controlled phase changes and the emergence of PbI₂ optimize band alignment and boost Voc. Combining these insights with targeted molecular passivation enables high-performance, semi-transparent modules achieving 22.5% semi-transparent indoor PCE, alongside standard indoor photovoltaic applications reaching 38% indoor PCE.
The second part extends these nanoscale and functional material strategies to electrified catalysis for sustainable chemical production. Powered by renewable electricity, we discuss the development of earth-abundant catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and electrochemical CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR) toward solar fuels like methanol. By integrating scalable fabrication techniques—such as electrodeposition—with advanced in-operando characterization and system-level techno-economic assessments (as highlighted by our SUNPEROM and NEXTCCUS initiatives), we demonstrate a holistic approach to engineering next-generation, highly stable energy devices from atoms to systems.
Info.:
Dr. Mojtaba Abdi-Jalebi (FIMMM, FHEA, 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) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
