RESEARCH


Our Vision

We investigate the fundamental physics and physical chemistry of energy materials, elucidating their electronic and structural dynamics alongside the nanoscale transport of charges, excitons, phonons and ions. We have pioneered a new generation of optical spectroscopy and microscopy methods that track these processes with exceptional spatial and temporal precision. We study diverse systems, spanning photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes and batteries. We aim not only to provide fundamental insights into these materials and devices, but also to develop functionalities that surpass current physical limits and pave the way for the scalable industrial application of these novel technologies

Ultrafast Dynamics at the Nanoscale

We are developing and applying a new generation of ultrafast optical spectroscopy and microscopy methods that allow us to study semiconductors, molecules and quantum systems on unprecedented temporal and spatial scales – down to 100 attoseconds and below 5nm. This is opening up a previously unexplored and exciting regime of physics

Learn more via the links below:

Ghosh et al, Nature (2024), Read more

Baike et al, Nature (2024), Read more

Ashoka et al, Nature Comms (2022), Read more

Schnedermann et al, Nature Comms (2019), Read more

Sung et al. Nature Physics (2019), Read More

Bretscher, et al. Science Advances (2021), Read More

Optical Probes of Electrochemistry

How do ions move in battery electrodes? What the the limits of fast charging? How do structural changes cause degradation in battery performance? We have developed novel optical light scattering based microscopies which are giving us unprecedented insights into these questions.

Learn more via the links below:

Merryweather et al., Nature (2021), Read More
Merryweather et al., Nature Materials (2022), Read More

Lim et al., Nature  (2024), Read More

Keene et al. Nature Materials (2023), Read More

Organic-Nanoparticle Hybrid Systems

We have pioneered the development of a new class of hybrid materials based on molecular semiconductors combined with inorganic nanomaterials such as  lanthanide-doped nanoparticles and colloidal quantum dots. These provide a new platforms for electronic and photonic devices, such as photovoltaics that could break the Shockley-Queisser limit and highly sensitive bio-sensors. 

Learn more via the links below:

Rao et al, Nature Reviews Materials (2017), Read more
Gray et al., Chemical Physics Reviews (2021), Read More
Han et al., Nature (2020), Read More
Yu et al., Nature (2025), Read More