The development of renewable, low cost energy technologies is now widely considered to be a key scientific challenge for the 21^st century. Our group’s primary research interest is the development of new chemical approaches to solar energy conversion – harnessing solar energy either to produce electricity (photovoltaics) or molecular fuels (e.g. hydrogen).

We undertake fundamental scientific studies of new materials and device concepts, aiming to elucidate design principles which enable technological development. Our research is based around using transient laser spectroscopies to undertake photochemical studies of light driven electron and energy transfer reactions. Such studies are undertaken in parallel with device development and functional characterisation, employing a wide range of molecular, polymeric and inorganic materials. Control of materials structure on the nanometer length scale is often essential for efficient utilisation of solar energy, and therefore the nano-morphology and the use of nanostructured materials is a key component of our research.

Our group’s expertise is focused around photochemistry and physical chemistry. However our research is very much interdisciplinary, with expertise in the group ranging from inorganic materials synthesis to device physics.

We are fortunate to have many external collaborations, both with academic groups and with industry, enabling us to work closely with colleagues working on innovative materials synthesis, theoretical modeling and practical device development and commercialisation. 

Professor James Durrant  CBE, FRS