Research with Impact in Materials Science
Opening new possibilities for the development of novel nanometer-scale hybrid perovskite on-chip optoelectronic devices.
The School of Engineering and Materials Science provides internationally-leading research activity represented by five academic divisions. Research is supported by industrial, clinical and academic partnerships as well as a thriving Joint Research Institute with Northwestern Polytechnical University in China. We have a long track record of worldwide research impact.
Our research has impact on industrial practice. In addition, we work to ensure that our innovations are understood and appreciated by the broader public.
The development and understanding of materials and nanostructured materials is a major research theme at Queen Mary. Our research spans materials with remarkable mechanical properties to composite materials and nanomaterials which have a range of unique physical and chemical characteristics, and have the potential to be used in a multitude of novel applications. These include new functional materials and sensors and actuators, materials for energy conversion and storage to biomaterials. It is because of this diversity that the work of this group bridges the research activities of all schools in the faculties of Science & Engineering as well as Medicine & Dentistry at Queen Mary.
Researchers in SEMS developed non-destructive single-crystal perovskite surface nanopatterning technologies. Single-crystalline perovskites are widely regarded as the future semiconductor materials and will be the next big wave in optoelectronics. To manufacture high-quality single-crystal perovskite optoelectronics, non-destructive surface nanopatterning technologies are required. Conventional photolithography-based nanopatterning methods cannot be used due to perovskite’s sensitivity to high temperature and solvents.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London invented a cost-effective simple method for the epitaxial growth of high-quality nanopatterns on single-crystal perovskite thin-film surface, which is potentially suitable for mass producing perovskite optoelectronic devices. By using their technology, nanopatterns with any desirable shape and geometry at a resolution down to tens of nanometres on single-crystal perovskite thin films were achieved and were proven to be the same single-crystal structure.
This technology may open new possibilities for the development of novel nanometer-scale hybrid perovskite on-chip optoelectronic devices.