Dr Wei Zhang


Associate Professor in Energy Technology
+44 (0)1483 688707
24 ATI 02

About

University roles and responsibilities

  • ATI Seminar coordinator

    My qualifications

    2012
    Ph.D.
    National University of Singapore

    Affiliations and memberships

    Member of EPSRC Peer Review College
    Member of Royal Society of Chemistry
    Member of American Chemical Society
    Associate Member of SUPERGEN SuperSolar Hub
    Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

    Business, industry and community links

    Research

    Research interests

    Research projects

    Research collaborations

    Thumbnail
    Thumbnail
    Thumbnail
    Thumbnail
    Thumbnail
    Thumbnail

    Supervision

    Postgraduate research supervision

    Postgraduate research supervision

    Teaching

    Publications

    Highlights

    D. Luo, W. Yang, Z. Wang, A. Sadhanala, Q. Hu, R. Su, R. Shivanna, G. F. Trindade, J. F. Watts, Z. Xu, T. Liu, K. Chen, F. Ye, P. Wu, L. Zhao, J. Wu, Y. Tu, Y. Zhang, X. Yang, W. Zhang,* R. H. Friend, Q. Gong, H. J. Snaith,* R. Zhu.* Enhanced photovoltage for inverted planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. Science 360 (6396), 1442-1446 (2018).

    Dongtao Liu, Deying Luo, Affan N Iqbal, Kieran WP Orr, Tiarnan AS Doherty, Zheng-Hong Lu, Samuel D Stranks*, Wei Zhang*. Strain analysis and engineering in halide perovskite photovoltaics. Nature Materials 20, 1337–1346 (2021).

    Aobo Ren, Hao Wang, Wei Zhang*, Jiang Wu*, Zhiming Wang, Richard V Penty, Ian H White. Emerging light-emitting diodes for next-generation data communications. Nature Electronics 4, 559–572 (2021).

    H. Li, W. Zhang*Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells: From Fundamentals to Commercial DeploymentChemical Reviews 120, 18, 9835–9950 (2020).

    D. Luo, R. Su, W. Zhang,* Q. Gong, R Zhu.* Minimizing non-radiative recombination losses in perovskite solar cellsNature Reviews Materials, 5, 44–60(2020).

    W. Zhang, G. E. Eperon, H. J. Snaith*. Metal halide perovskites for energy applications. Nature Energy 1, 16048 (2016).

    W. Zhang, M. Saliba, D. T. Moore, S. K. Pathak, M. T. Hörantner, T. Stergiopoulos, S. D. Stranks, G. E. Eperon, J. A. Alexander-Webber, A. Abate, A. Sadhanala, S. Yao, Y. Chen, R. H. Friend, L. A. Estroff, U. Wiesner, H. J. Snaith*. Ultrasmooth organic–inorganic perovskite thin-film formation and crystallization for efficient planar heterojunction solar cells. Nature Communications 6, 6142 (2015).

    W. Zhang, S. Pathak, N. Sakai, T. Stergiopoulos, P. K. Nayak, N. K. Noel, A. A. Haghighirad, V. M. Burlakov, D. W. deQuilettes, A. Sadhanala, W. Li, L. Wang, D. S. Ginger, R. H. Friend, H. J. Snaith*. Enhanced optoelectronic quality of perovskite thin films with hypophosphorous acid for planar heterojunction solar cells. Nature Communications 6, 10030 (2015).

    Books & Chapters

    1. W. Zhang. “Nanomaterials in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells” in Book “Advanced Nanomaterials for Solar Cells and Light Emitting Diodes” 1, 69-95. Elsevier (2019).
    2. W. Zhang (Editor). Metal Halide Perovskite Crystals: Growth Techniques, properties and Emerging Applications. ISBN 978-3-03897-558-8.  MDPI (2019).
    3. W. Zhang, V. Ferguson, S. R. P. Silva. “Nanocarbons for Emerging Photovoltaic Applications” in Book “Emerging Nanotechnologies for Renewable Energy”. Elsevier (2021).

    Patents

    Thin film production (US10622162B2).  Granted on 2020-04-14.

    Publications

    (#co-first author, *corresponding author)

    60    B. Li, Y. Xiang, K. D. G. I. Jayawardena, D. Luo, Z. Wang, X. Yang, J. F. Watts, S. Hinder, M. T. Sajjad, T. Webb, H. Luo, I. Marko, H. Li, S. A. J. Thomson, R. Zhu, G. Shao, S. J. Sweeney, S. R. P. Silva,* W. Zhang.*Reduced bilateral recombination by functional molecular interface engineering for efficient inverted perovskite solar cells. Nano Energy 78, 105249 (2020).

    59     V. Ferguson, B. Li, M. O. Tas, T. Webb, M. T. Sajjad, S. A. J. Thomson, Z. Wu, Y. Shen, G. Shao, J. V. Anguita, S. R. P. Silva, Wei Zhang.* Direct Growth of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes onto Transparent Conductive Oxide Glass for Enhanced Charge Extraction in Perovskite Solar Cells. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2001121 (2020)

    58      M. Jiang, C. Fu,* R. Cheng, W. Zhang, T. Liu, R. Wang, J. Zhang, B. Sun. Integrated and Binder‐Free Air Cathodes of Co3Fe7 Nanoalloy and Co5.47N Encapsulated in Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Foam with Superior Oxygen Reduction  Activity in Flexible Aluminum‐Air Batteries. Advanced Science 7 (18), 2000747 (2020)

    57      Z. Wu, Y. Zhang, Y. Shen, W. Zhang, G. Shao.*Heater‐Free and Substrate‐Independent Growth of Vertically Standing Graphene Using A High‐Flux Plasma‐Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition. Advanced Materials Interfaces 7 (18), 2000854 (2020)

    56       H. Li, W. Zhang.* Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells: From Fundamentals to Commercial Deployment. Chemical Reviews 120, 9835-9950 (2020)

    55      J. Zhang, W. Zhang,* H.-M. Cheng,* S R. P. Silva*. Critical review of recent progress of flexible perovskite solar cells. Materials Today, 39, 66-88 (2020)

    54       M. Jiang, J. Yang, J. Ju, W. Zhang, L. He, J. Zhang, C. Fu,* B. Sun. Space-confined synthesis of CoNi nanoalloy in N-doped porous carbon frameworks as efficient oxygen reduction catalyst for neutral and alkaline aluminum-air batteries. Energy Storage Materials 27, 96-108 (2020)

    53      B. Li, Y. Xiang, I. Jayawardena, D. Luo, J. Watts, S. Hinder, H. Li, V. Ferguson, H. Luo, R. Zhu, S. R. P.  Silva,* W. Zhang* Tailoring Perovskite Adjacent Interfaces by Conjugated Polyelectrolyte for Stable and Efficient Solar Cells. Solar RRL (2020). DOI: 10.1002/solr.202000060 

    52    Jayawardena K.D.G.I., Bandara R. M. I., Monti M., Butler-Caddle E., Pichler T., Shiozawa H., Wang Z., Jenatsch S., Hinder S. J., Masteghin M. G., Patel M., Thirimanne H.M., Zhang W., Sporea R.A., Lloyd-Hughes J., Silva S.R.P. (2019) Approaching the Shockley–Queisser limit for fill factors in lead–tin mixed perovskite photovoltaics. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 8 (2), 693-705 (2020)

    51     W. Yang, R. Su, D. Luo, Q. Hu, F. Zhang, Z. Xu, Z. Wang, J. Tang, Z. Lv, X. Yang, Y. Tu, W. Zhang, H. Zhong, Q. Gong, T. P. Russel, R. Zhu.* Surface modification induced by perovskite quantum dots for triple-cation perovskite solar cells. Nano Energy, 67, 104189 (2020).

    50     D. Luo, R. Su, W. Zhang,* Q. Gong, R Zhu.* Minimizing non-radiative recombination losses in perovskite solar cells. Nature Reviews Materials, 5, 44–60(2020).

    49     V. Ferguson, S. R. P Silva, W. Zhang*. Carbon materials in perovskite solar cells: prospects and future challenges. Energy & Environmental Materials, 2 (2), 107-118 (2019).

    48      B. Li, V. Ferguson, S. R. P. Silva, W Zhang*. Defect engineering toward highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. Advanced Materials Interfaces 5 (22), 1800326 (2018).

    47      D. Luo, W. Yang, Z. Wang, A. Sadhanala, Q. Hu, R. Su, R. Shivanna, G. F. Trindade, J. F. Watts, Z. Xu, T. Liu, K. Chen, F. Ye, P. Wu, L. Zhao, J. Wu, Y. Tu, Y. Zhang, X. Yang, W. Zhang,* R. H. Friend, Q. Gong, H. J. Snaith,* R. Zhu.* Enhanced photovoltage for inverted planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. Science 360 (6396), 1442-1446 (2018).

    46      H. Hu, B. Dong, W. Zhang*. Low-toxic metal halide perovskites: opportunities and future challenges. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 5, 11436-11449 (2017).

    45      D. Luo,  L. Zhao, J. Wu, Q. Hu, Y. Zhang, Z. Xu, Y. Liu, T. Liu, K. Chen, W. Yang, W. Zhang, R. Zhu*, Q. Gong. Dual‐source precursor approach for highly efficient inverted planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. Advanced Materials, 29 (19), 1604758 (2017).

    44     Q. Hu, L. Zhao, J. Wu, K. Gao, D. Luo, Y. Jiang, Z. Zhang, C. Zhu, E. Schaible, A. Hexemer, C. Wang, Y. Liu, W. Zhang, M. Grätzel, F. Liu*, T. P. Russell*,  R. Zhu*, Q. Gong. In situ dynamic observations of perovskite crystallisation and microstructure evolution intermediated from [PbI6]4− cage nanoparticles. Nature Communications 8, 15688 (2017).

    43      S. Bai, N. Sakai, W. Zhang, Z. Wang, J. T. W Wang, F. Gao, H. J. Snaith*. Reproducible planar heterojunction solar cells based on one-step solution-processed methylammonium lead halide perovskites. Chemistry of Materials 29 (1), 462–473 (2017).

    42     Y. Zhou, Z.-J.Yong, W. Zhang, J.-P. Ma, A. Sadhanala, Y.-M. Chen, B.-M. Liu, Y. Zhou, B. Song, H.-T. Sun*. Ultra-broadband optical amplification at telecommunication wavelengths achieved by bismuth-activated lead iodide perovskites. Journal of Materials Chemistry C 5, 2591-2596 (2017).

    41     M. Anaya, W. Zhang, B. C. Hames, Y. Li, F. Fabregat-Santiago, M. E Calvo, H. J. Snaith, H. Míguez*, I. Mora-Seró. Electron injection and scaffold effects in perovskite solar cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry C 5, 634-644 (2017).

    40     L. Zhang,  M. T. Hörantner, W. Zhang, Q. Yan, and H. J. Snaith*. Near-neutral-colored semitransparent perovskite films using a combination of colloidal self-assembly and plasma etching. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 160, 193-202 (2017).

    39      Sheng R, Hörantner M, Wang Z, Jiang Y, Zhang W, Agosti A, Huang S, Hao X, Ho-Baillie A, Green M, Snaith H. Monolithic wide band gap perovskite/perovskite tandem solar cells with organic recombination layers. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 121 (49), 27256-27262 (2017).

    38     Dawson J, Naylor A, Eames C, Roberts M, Zhang W, Snaith H, Bruce P, Islam M. Mechanisms of lithium intercalation and conversion processes in organic–inorganic halide perovskites. ACS Energy Letters, 2 (8), 1818-1824 (2017).

    37    W. Zhang, G. E. Eperon, H. J. Snaith*. Metal halide perovskites for energy applications. Nature Energy 1, 16048 (2016).

    36    W. Li#, W. Zhang#, R. J. Sutton, J. Fan, M. B. Johnston, L. Wang*, H. J. Snaith*. Enhanced UV-light stability of planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells with caesium bromide interface modification. Energy & Environmental Science 9, 490-498 (2016).

    35     K. Chen, Q. Hu, T. Liu, L. Zhao, D. Luo, J. Wu,  Y. Zhang, W. Zhang, and Liu, F. and T. P. Russell, and R. Zhu*, and Q. Gong. Charge‐carrier balance for highly efficient inverted planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells. Advanced Materials 28 (48), 10718-10724 (2016).

    34    T. Leijtens, G. E. Eperon, A. J. Barker, G. Grancini, W. Zhang, J. M. Ball, A. R.Srimath Kandada, H. J. Snaith, and A. Petrozza*.Carrier trapping and recombination: the role of defect physics in enhancing the open circuit voltage of metal halide perovskite solar cells. Energy and Environmental Science 9 (11), 3472-3481 (2016).

    33    G. L. Whitworth, J. R. Harwell, D. N. Miller, G. J. Hedley, W. Zhang, H. J. Snaith, G. A. Turnbull, I. D. W. Samuel*. Nanoimprinted distributed feedback lasers of solution processed hybrid perovskites. Optics Express 24 (21) 23677-23684 (2016).

    32   J. T. W. Wang, Z. Wang, S. Pathak, W. Zhang, D. W. deQuilettes, F. Wisnivesky-Rocca-Rivarola, J. Huang, P. K. Nayak, J. B. Patel, H. A. Mohd Yusof, Y. Vaynzof, R. Zhu, I. Ramirez, J. Zhang, C. Ducati, C. Grovenor, M. B. Johnston, D. S. Ginger, R. J. Nicholas*, H. J. Snaith*. Efficient perovskite solar cells by metal ion doping. Energy and Environmental Science 9, 2892-2901 (2016).

    31    L. Zhao, D. Luo, J. Wu, Q. Hu, W. Zhang, K. Chen, T. Liu, Y. Liu, Y. Zhang, F. Liu, T. P. Russell*, H. J. Snaith, R. Zhu*, Q. Gong. High‐performance inverted planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells based on lead acetate precursor with efficiency exceeding 18%. Advanced Functional Materials, 26 (20), 3508-3514 (2016).

    30    D. deQuilettes, W. Zhang, V. Burlakov, D. Graham, T. Leijtens, A. Osherov, V. Bulović, H. J. Snaith, D. Ginger, S. Stranks*. Photo-induced halide redistribution in organic-inorganic perovskite films. Nature Communications, 7, 11683 (2016).

    29     W Qiu, T Merckx, M Jaysankar, C Masse de la Huerta, L Rakocevic, W Zhang, UW Paetzold, R Gehlhaar, L Froyen, J Poortmans, D Cheyns, HJ Snaith, P Heremans*. Pinhole-free perovskite films for efficient solar modules. Energy & Environmental Science, 9, 484-489 (2016).

    28    W. Zhang, M. Anaya, G. Lozano, M. Ernesto Calvo, M. B. Johnston, H. Miguez*, H. J. Snaith*. Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells with Tuneable Structural Color. Nano Letters 15, 1698-1702 (2015).

    27     W. Zhang, M. Saliba, D. T. Moore, S. K. Pathak, M. T. Hörantner, T. Stergiopoulos, S. D. Stranks, G. E. Eperon, J. A. Alexander-Webber, A. Abate, A. Sadhanala, S. Yao, Y. Chen, R. H. Friend, L. A. Estroff, U. Wiesner, H. J. Snaith*. Ultrasmooth organic–inorganic perovskite thin-film formation and crystallization for efficient planar heterojunction solar cells. Nature Communications 6, 6142 (2015).

    26     W. Zhang, S. Pathak, N. Sakai, T. Stergiopoulos, P. K. Nayak, N. K. Noel, A. A. Haghighirad, V. M. Burlakov, D. W. deQuilettes, A. Sadhanala, W. Li, L. Wang, D. S. Ginger, R. H. Friend, H. J. Snaith*. Enhanced optoelectronic quality of perovskite thin films with hypophosphorous acid for planar heterojunction solar cells. Nature Communications 6, 10030 (2015).

    25    M. T. Hörantner#, W. Zhang#, M. Saliba, K. Wojciechowski, H. J. Snaith*. Templated microstructural growth of perovskite thin films via colloidal monolayer lithography. Energy & Environmental Science 8, 2041-2047 (2015).

    24     M. Saliba#, W. Zhang#, V. M. Burlakov, S. D. Stranks, Y. Sun, J. M. Ball, M. B. Johnston, A. Goriely, U. Wiesner, H. J. Snaith*. Plasmonic Induced Photon Recycling in Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells. Advanced Functional Materials 25, 5038-5046 (2015).

    23        S. D. Stranks*, P. K. Nayak, W. Zhang, T. Stergiopoulos, H. J. Snaith*. Formation of Thin Films of Organic–Inorganic Perovskites for High-Efficiency Solar Cells. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 54, 3240-3248 (2015).

    22         D. T. Moore, H. Sai, K. W. Tan, D.-M. Smilgies, W. Zhang, H. J. Snaith, U. Wiesner*, L. A. Estroff*. Crystallization kinetics of organic-inorganic trihalide perovskites and the role of the lead anion in crystal growth. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 137, 2350-2358 (2015).

    21         J. M. Ball, S. D. Stranks, M. T. Hörantner, S. Hüttner, W. Zhang, E. J. W. Crossland, I. Ramirez, M. Riede, M. B. Johnston, R. H. Friend, H. J. Snaith*. Optical properties and limiting photocurrent of thin-film perovskite solar cells. Energy & Environmental Science 8, 602-609 (2015).

    20        Y. Zhang, M. Liu, G. E. Eperon, T. Leijtens, D. P. McMeekin, M. Saliba, W. Zhang, M. D. Bastiani, L. Herz, M. B. Johnston*, H. Lin*, H. J. Snaith*. Charge selective contacts, mobile ions and anomalous hysteresis in organic–inorganic perovskite solar cells. Materials Horizons 2, 315-322 (2015).

    19         M. Anaya, G. Lozano, M. Calvo, W. Zhang, M. B. Johnston, H. J. Snaith, H. Miguez*. Optical Description of Mesostructured Organic-Inorganic Halide Perovskite Solar Cells. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 6, 48-53 (2015).

    18         S. Guarnera, A. Abate*, W. Zhang, J. M. Foster, G. Richardson, A. Petrozza*, H. J. Snaith*. Improving the Long-term Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells with a Porous Al2O3 Buffer-layer. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 6, 432-437 (2015).

    17         M. Saliba, K. W. Tan, H. Sai, D. T. Moore, T. Scott, W. Zhang, L. Estroff, U. Wiesner*, H. J. Snaith*. Influence of thermal processing protocol upon the crystallization and photovoltaic performance of organic–inorganic lead trihalide perovskites. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 118, 17171-17177 (2014).

    16         H. J. Snaith*, A. Abate, J. M. Ball, G. E. Eperon, T. Leijtens, N. K. Noel, S. D. Stranks, J. T.-W. Wang, K. Wojciechowski, W. Zhang. Anomalous Hysteresis in Perovskite Solar Cells. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 5, 1511-1515 (2014).

    15       W. Zhang, M. Saliba, S. D. Stranks, Y. Sun, X. Shi, U. Wiesner, H. J. Snaith*. Enhancement of perovskite-based solar cells employing core–shell metal nanoparticles. Nano Letters 13, 4505-4510 (2013).

    14         L. Cai, H. N. Tsao, W. Zhang, L. Wang, Z. Xue, M. Grätzel*, B. Liu*. Organic Sensitizers with Bridged Triphenylamine Donor Units for Efficient Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells. Advanced Energy Materials 3, 200-205 (2013).

    13        L. Etgar*, W. Zhang, S. Gabriel, S. G. Hickey, M. K. Nazeeruddin, A. Eychmüller, B. Liu, M. Grätzel. High Efficiency Quantum Dot Heterojunction Solar Cell Using Anatase (001) TiO2 Nanosheets. Advanced Materials 24, 2202-2206 (2012).

    12         Z. Xue, W. Zhang, X. Yin, Y. Cheng, L. Wang, B. Liu*. Enhanced conversion efficiency of flexible dye-sensitized solar cells by optimization of the nanoparticle size with an electrophoretic deposition technique. Rsc Advances 2, 7074-7080 (2012).

    11        B. Laskova, M. Zukalova, L. Kavan*, A. Chou, P. Liska, W. Zhang, B. Liu, P. Kubat, E. Ghadiri, J. E. Moser, M. Grätzel. Voltage enhancement in dye-sensitized solar cell using (001)-oriented anatase TiO2 nanosheets. Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry 16, 2993-3001 (2012).

    10       W. Zhang, R. Zhu, B. Liu*, S. Ramakrishna*. High-performance hybrid solar cells employing metal-free organic dye modified TiO2 as photoelectrode. Applied Energy 90, 305-308 (2012).

    9        J. Warnan, Y. Pellegrin, E. Blart, F. Odobel*, W. Zhang, B. Liu, V. J. Babu, S. Ramakrishna*. Application of Poly (3‐hexylthiophene) Functionalized with an Anchoring Group in Dye‐sensitized Solar Cells. Macromolecular rapid communications 32, 1190-1194 (2011).

    8        W. Zhang, R. Zhu, F. Li, Q. Wang*, B. Liu*. High-performance solid-state organic dye sensitized solar cells with P3HT as hole transporter. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 115, 7038-7043 (2011).

    7       W. Zhang, Y. Cheng, X. Yin, B. Liu*. Solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells with conjugated polymers as hole‐transporting materials. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 212, 15-23 (2011).

    6        W. Zhang, R. Zhu, B. Liu*, S. Ramakrishna*. Low-cost fabrication of TiO2 nanorod photoelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cell application. Australian Journal of Chemistry 64, 1282-1287 (2011).

    5         X. Liu, W. Zhang, S. Uchida, L. Cai, B. Liu*, S. Ramakrishna*. An efficient organic‐dye‐sensitized solar cell with in situ polymerized poly (3, 4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) as a hole‐transporting material. Advanced Materials 22, E150-E155 (2010).

    4        W. Zhang, R. Zhu, L. Ke, X. Liu, B. Liu*, S. Ramakrishna*. Anatase Mesoporous TiO2 Nanofibers with High Surface Area for Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells. Small 6, 2176-2182 (2010).

    3        W. Zhang, Z. Fang, M. Su, M. Saeys, B. Liu*. A triphenylamine‐based conjugated polymer with donor‐π‐acceptor architecture as organic sensitizer for dye‐sensitized solar cells. Macromolecular Rapid Communications 30, 1533-1537 (2009).

    2       W. Zhang, R. Zhu, X. Liu, B. Liu*, S. Ramakrishna*. Facile construction of nanofibrous ZnO photoelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cell applications. Applied Physics Letters 95, 043304-043304-043303 (2009).

    1        W. Zhang, R. Zhu, X. Z. Liu, B. Liu*, S. Ramakrishna*. CONJUGATED POLYMER-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS BASED ON ELECTROSPUN TiO2 NANOFIBER ELECTRODE. International Journal of Nanoscience 8, 227-230 (2009).