Nanoscience Colloquia
Open, advanced talks on nanoscience
The Nanoscience Colloquia (from the Latin word ”loqui,” which means “to talk”) are a series of advanced talks on nanoscience, open to everyone within and outside academia. Welcome to join the conversation – see you in k-space at the Physics Department!
Colloquia scheduled
Nanoscience colloquia are usually on Thursdays at 15:15 in k-space, Department of Physics (unless otherwise stated).
NanoScience Colloquium by Prof. Karen Edler, CAS, Dept of Chemistry, LU
17 September 2026 15:15 in k-space
More info and abstract coming soon!
Exploration of III-V/Si Nanowires for Photoelectrochemical Solar Water Splitting
NanoScience Colloquium by Prof. Dr. Thomas Hannappel, TU IImenau, Germany
12 May 2026 15:15 to16:30in k-space.
Abstract:
Converting sunlight directly into chemical fuels such as hydrogen is a promising route toward sustainable energy storage. Photoelectrochemical water splitting based on semiconductor materials can, in principle, achieve high efficiencies, particularly when using advanced III-V semiconductor systems.
In this context, semiconductor nanowires (NWs) offer unique opportunities compared to conventional planar structures. Their geometry enhances light absorption through optical antenna effects, supports efficient charge separation, and enables the integration of high-performance III-V materials on silicon platforms. At the same time, their large surface area provides abundant active sites for interfacial reactions with the electrolyte.
However, these advantages come with challenges: the high surface-to-volume ratio also makes NW-based systems particularly sensitive to corrosion and interfacial degradation under operating conditions. Understanding and controlling these processes is therefore essential for achieving stable device performance.
The seminar talk will discuss how photoelectrodes with NW geometry, defect density, and surface chemistry influence both efficiency and stability. Particular emphasis will be placed on interfacial engineering and passivation strategies, providing general insights into the design of robust semiconductor–electrolyte systems for solar fuel generation.
Metal halide perovskite for next-generation optoelectronic devices
NanoScience Colloquium by Prof. Feng Gao from Linköping University.
23 April 2026 15:15 to 16:30 in k-space
Abstract:
Metal halide perovskites have shown great promise for next-generation optoelectronic devices, including solar cells and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
For perovskite solar cells, we aim to enhance their stability by developing stable charge-transport materials.
We further demonstrate that both the charge-transport materials and perovskites can be effectively recycled using green solvents, highlighting unique opportunities for holistic recycling in perovskite photovoltaics and paving the way for a sustainable perovskite solar economy.
For perovskite LEDs, we showcase their efficient light detection capabilities, distinguishing them from LEDs based on other semiconductors.
By making use of this feature, we have developed multifunctional displays using highly photo-responsive perovskite LEDs as pixels. Our advancements in perovskite optoelectronics emphasize sustainability and environmental responsibility, contributing to future innovations in perovskite-based technologies.
Identifying Productive and Parasitic Pathways in Solar Energy Conversion Devices via Time-Resolved Laser Spectroscopy
NanoScience Colloquium by Prof. Yasuhiro Tachibana from RMIT University, Australia.
19 March 2026 15:15 to 16:30 in k-space
Abstract:
Efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity or chemical fuels is governed by a cascade of photophysical and photochemical processes spanning femtoseconds to seconds. In this seminar, I will first introduce the fundamental principles of time-resolved laser spectroscopy, i.e. what it is, how it works, and what kinds of information it can provide. By using short laser pulses to excite materials and probe their subsequent evolution in time, these techniques allow us to directly observe transient species, charge carriers, and reaction intermediates that are invisible to steady-state measurements.
I will then demonstrate how time-resolved methods, including transient absorption spectroscopy, time-resolved photoluminescence and time-resolved microwave conductivity technique, provide indispensable insight into the dynamic processes governing perovskite solar cells and heterogeneous photocatalysts. These approaches enable us to quantify exciton generation, charge generation, exciton dissociation, carrier diffusion, trapping, recombination, interfacial charge transfer, and surface redox reactions.
Importantly, time-resolved spectroscopy can also uncover energy-redundant or parasitic pathways such as trap-assisted recombination, back electron transfer, and nonproductive relaxation channels that dissipate absorbed photon energy without contributing to useful work. By identifying both productive and loss processes, and correlating them with device performance, kinetic analysis becomes a powerful guide for rational materials and interface design. Understanding not only what happens, but when and how efficiently it happens, is essential for optimizing next-generation solar energy conversion systems.
Atomic Layer Etch Pitch Splitting (APS™) Technology by AlixLabs
NanoScience Colloquium by Dmitry Suyatin, Co-founder and CSO of AlixLabs company
29 January 2026 15:15 to 16:30 in k-space
Abstract:
AlixLabs, spun off from NanoLund, is the world’s only pure-play Atomic Layer Etch (ALE) company, developing technologies that make semiconductor manufacturing in the ångström era more accessible, sustainable, and efficient.
Our flagship ALE Pitch Splitting (APS™) process enables the precise and efficient manufacturing of extremely fine structures, with critical dimensions below 10 nm, by utilizing sidewalls as natural etch masks. APS reduces the number of steps required in chip manufacturing, thereby lowering capital expenditures and increasing throughput, while simultaneously minimizing emissions and the consumption of energy and water.
In this talk, I will outline the development of APS™ at AlixLabs, from its initial discovery to a pilot-line compatible tool, and present our roadmap toward high-volume manufacturing. I will explain how APS complements existing patterning methods, discuss the challenges of transferring lab innovations into industrial applications, and share practical insights on turning nanoscience into real-world technologies.
Future colloquia will be organized by Maning Liu, so if you have ideas for speakers that you would like to invite, please contact Maning.