Advancing stable, scalable optoelectronics — perovskite solar cells, photodetectors, and radiation detectors — through mechanistic interface design.
Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules · Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Tenure-Track Associate Professor · Ph.D. Supervisor
Dr. Liu leads the group at the Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules (FSCTM) and the National Key Laboratory of Fluorinated Functional Membrane Materials, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His research focuses on the chemistry and physics of semiconductor interfaces for stable optoelectronic devices.
He operates a "mechanism → strategy → device" closed loop: verifiable mechanistic understanding drives scalable passivation strategies for industrially viable device architectures.
He has published 60+ SCI papers with 26 first/corresponding-author papers in Science (3), Nature, Nature Energy (2), Nature Nanotechnology, Joule, Nature Communications, Science Advances — 8 ESI Highly Cited. He holds 7 patents (2 granted + 5 applications).
Prior to SJTU: Research Associate & Postdoctoral Fellow at Northwestern University with Professors Edward H. Sargent and Mercouri G. Kanatzidis (2022–2026). Ph.D. from Northwestern (2021). Visiting Ph.D. at EPFL with Prof. Mohammad K. Nazeeruddin (2019–2021).
Youth Editorial Board — J. Energy Chem. · Reviewer — Science, Nat. Energy, Nat. Nanotech., JACS, Adv. Mater.
High-efficiency single-junction and tandem cells; scalable 1 m × 2 m modules; wet-interface chemistry and SAM design.
Molecular strategies — amidinium, isothiuronium, bimolecular, hydrazide-based — to suppress recombination and redirect redox pathways.
Perovskite-based detectors leveraging defect-engineered materials for high-sensitivity, stable operation.
Stabilizing CsPbI3 phases via quantum-dot and quasi-quantum-dot approaches for thermally robust devices.
Chemically-bonded monolayers and 2D perovskite capping layers (RP & DJ) for durable high-temperature interfaces.
In-situ NMR, Raman, GIWAXS, XPS, AFM-IR combined with computation to uncover passivation-stability mechanisms.
† co-first · 26 first/corresponding-author papers
Full list on Google Scholar · 7 patents
📍 Address
FSCTM, SJTU Zhangjiang Campus
429 Zhangheng Rd, Pudong, Shanghai 200240
📧 Email
c.liu@sjtu.edu.cn
chengliu1294@gmail.com
📞 Phone
+86 188-1078-9503
The lab follows a "mechanism → strategy → device" philosophy — verifiable mechanistic understanding drives scalable passivation for industrially viable optoelectronics.
Research areas: Perovskite cells/tandems, photodetectors, radiation detection, interface engineering.
Email c.liu@sjtu.edu.cn with CV + research interests. Subject: "Position + Name + Affiliation + Date".
Long-term open. Inquiries welcome.