STAFF PROFILE
Dr Joel van Embden
Core research areas
- Nanomaterials and Surface Chemistry
- Solar cells
- Nanostructured thin films
- Molecular precursor design
Nanomaterials are a unique class of matter that bridge atomic and bulk properties, and whose dimensions are often directly correlated to their optical and electrical properties. Nanocrystals are ideal templates for the active layers inside numerous technologies, including solar cells, photo-catalysts, LEDs, and batteries. The synthesis, characterization, and device application of novel semiconducting, metal, and metal oxide nanoparticles is one of Dr. van Embden’s major ongoing research themes.
Surface Chemistry must be carefully optimized within any nanocrystal-based technology. The formulation of novel nanocrystal-based “inks” and their successful application within electronic devices requires optimal surface chemistry. Nanocrystal surface chemistry plays an important role in wide variety of properties, including their catalytic activity, photoluminescence, charge transport phenomena, and film forming properties.
Solar cells are one of the most attractive renewable energy applications. The ability to solution process a solar cell in air at mild temperatures is unparalleled in its capacity to significantly reduce the cost of solar cell manufacture. Using a combination of wet chemical techniques we explore a number of novel routes to achieve high efficiency solar cells, including CZTSe, CuSbS2, CIGS, and perovskite solar cells.
Nanostructured thin films can possess enhanced optical and electrical properties compared to their bulk counterparts. There is a strong structure-function relation within such films. We investigate the production of functional nanostructured thin films using solution-based methods, as well as post deposition film processing conditions.
Molecular precursor design may be used to develop specialized precursors that are designed to decompose into bulk metals or semiconductors upon mild heating. Specific focus is given to novel molecular precursors conducive to the deposition of metal oxide, chalcogenide and phosphide thin films. The structure of the molecular precursor dictates the decomposition pathway, by-product formation (contaminants), as well as the composition, phase, and morphology of the resultant bulk material.
For a full publication list see Google Scholar profile
Professional network links ResearchGate, Linkedin
Research activities
- Nanocrystal synthesis and surface chemistry
- Optical and electrical properties of nanostructures
- Functional nanocrystal-based thin-films
- Evaporated and solution processed inorganic solar cells
- Metal-organic precursors for semiconductor thin films
Current fellowship
- ARC, “All-in-one Functional Nanocrystal Inks for Printed Inorganic Solar Cells”
Teaching
- Professional Scientist Program (ONPS 2335)
- Science Project (ONPS 2186)
- Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 1030)
- Laboratory Demonstration
- Guest Lecturer (Sustainable Energy)
Research activities
- Nanocrystal synthesis and surface chemistry
- Optical and electrical properties of nanostructures
- Functional nanocrystal-based thin-films
- Evaporated and solution processed inorganic solar cells
- Metal-organic precursors for semiconductor thin films
Current fellowship
- ARC, “All-in-one Functional Nanocrystal Inks for Printed Inorganic Solar Cells”
Teaching
- Professional Scientist Program (ONPS 2335)
- Science Project (ONPS 2186)
- Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 1030)
- Laboratory Demonstration
- Guest Lecturer (Sustainable Energy)
Education
- PhD, The University of Melbourne, 2008
- BSc. (Honours 1st Class), School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, 2003
Selected awards
- 2014, Recipient of ARC DECRA
- 2013, Recipient of Fall MRS Best Poster Prize
- 2008, Recipient ANBF/Photon Factory (Japan) Synchrotron Proposal Grant (ANBF744)
- 2004, Recipient of Postgraduate Overseas Research Experience Scholarship (PORES)
- 2003, Recipient of Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)
Professional associations
- Australian Nanotechnology Network (ANN)
- Royal Australian Chemical Institute (MRACI CChem)
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
Outreach
- CSIRO summer studentships (Melbourne University)
- Research Display, Scienceworks, National Science Week
Conference organization
- Conference Organizer, Sir Mark Oliphant, Nanophotonics Down Under (2009)
Employment background
- 2015, ARC Senior Research Fellow, School of Science, RMIT University
- 2012, OCE Research Fellowship, Future Manufacturing Flagship, CSIRO
- 2010, Research Fellow, School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University (Professor Yasuhiro Tachibana)
- 2008, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre of Excellence, Swinburne University (Professor Min Gu)
- 2008, PhD (nanomaterials), The University of Melbourne (Professor Paul Mulvaney)
- van Embden, J.,Gross, S.,Kittilstved, K.,Della Gaspera, E. (2023). Colloidal Approaches to Zinc Oxide Nanocrystals In: Chemical Reviews, 123, 271 - 326
- Melendez Correa, L.,van Embden, J.,Connell, T.,Duffy, N.,Gomez Alviarez, D. (2023). Optimal Geometry for Plasmonic Hot-Carrier Extraction in Metal-Semiconductor Nanocrystals In: ACS Nano, 17, 4659 - 4666
- Kendall, O.,Melendez, L.,Ren, J.,Ratnayake, S.,Murdoch, B.,Mayes, E.,van Embden, J.,Gomez, D.,Calzolari, A.,Della Gaspera, E. (2023). Photoactive p-Type Spinel CuGa2O4 Nanocrystals In: Nano Letters, 23, 2974 - 2980
- Mendes, J.,Merenda, A.,Wilson, K.,Lee, A.,Della Gaspera, E.,van Embden, J. (2023). Substrate Morphology Directs (001) Sb2Se3 Thin Film Growth by Crystallographic Orientation Filtering In: Small, , 1 - 10
- Feeney, T.,Aygur, G.,Nguyen, T.,Farooq, S.,Mendes, J.,Tuohey, H.,Gomez, D.,Della Gaspera, E.,van Embden, J. (2023). Solution processed bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) thin films and solar cells In: Nanotechnology, 34, 1 - 10
- Mendes, J.,Aygur, G.,Michel, J.,Bullock, J.,Gomez, D.,Della Gaspera, E.,van Embden, J. (2023). Transferable Highly (001) Oriented Sb2Se3 Nanorod Films on Flexible Substrates for Innovative Optoelectronic Devices In: Advanced Materials Interfaces, , 1 - 9
- Farooq, S.,Krishnamurthi, V.,Walia, S.,Aygur, G.,Della Gaspera, E.,van Embden, J. (2023). Solvent Dopant-Regulated Grain Formation for Bismuth Iodide Thin-Film Photodetectors In: ACS Applied Nano Materials, 6, 19661 - 19670
- Ratnayake, S.,Ren, J.,Murdoch, B.,van Embden, J.,Gomez, D.,McConville, C.,Della Gaspera, E. (2022). Nanostructured Electrodes Based on Two-Dimensional SnO2for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting In: ACS Applied Energy Materials, 5, 10359 - 10365
- Shepherd, W.,Melendez Correa, L.,Kendall, O.,Liu, Y.,Murdoch, B.,van Embden, J.,Gomez, D.,Della Gaspera, E. (2022). Investigation of n-type co-doping in barium stannate nanoparticles In: Materials Today Chemistry, 26, 1 - 10
- Wainer, P.,van Embden, J.,Della Gaspera, E. (2022). Densification of Doped Zinc Oxide Nanocrystal Films via Chemical Bath Infiltration In: Advanced Materials Interfaces, 9, 1 - 9
11 PhD Current Supervisions and 1 Masters by Research Current Supervisions7 PhD Completions and 1 Masters by Research Completions
- All-in-one Functional Nanocrystal Inks for Printed Inorganic Solar Cells. Funded by: ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) 2015 from (2015 to 2018)