Summary
Tom Macdonald is currently an 1851 Research Fellow in the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London. His research at Imperial will continue to investigate the fundamental roles that nanomaterials play in perovskite solar cells, particularly in understanding their stability limitations under stress and probing their charge transfer dynamics. His current project investigates a variety of perovskite absorber layers with an emphasis on understanding their surface chemistry as well as the interfacial interaction between neighbouring semiconductors and the counter electrode. In particular, Tom is investigating novel experimental techniques that will facilitate the measurement of charge carrier dynamics at both the surface of the materials, as well as at the interface, providing new design rules to guide the development of stable and efficient photovoltaics. He has recognised expertise in the synthesis and characterisation of nanocrystals (chalcogenides, phosphides and perovskites), nanoparticles (metals and their compounds), and nanofibers (metal oxides and carbon materials). Thus far, his research has worked towards the manipulation of nanomaterials to benefit the stability and performance of dye-sensitised and perovskite solar cells.
Prior to joining Imperial, Tom completed his PhD in 2016 at the University of South Australia under the supervision of Prof. Thomas Nann. Tom then went on to complete a short postdoctoral position on nanoparticle synthesis with Prof. Ivan Parkin in the Department of Chemistry at University College London (UCL). In 2017, Tom was awarded a Ramsay Memorial Fellowship at UCL where he developed innovative synthetic routes for the preparation of perovskite nanocrystals and new fundamental understandings for the role of carbon nanotubes in perovskite solar cells.
Additional information regarding Tom’s current research can be found on the website of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851: Dr. T.J. Macdonald
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Ambroz F, Xu W, Gadipelli S, et al., 2019, Room Temperature Synthesis of Phosphine-Capped Lead Bromide Perovskite Nanocrystals without Coordinating Solvents, Particle & Particle Systems Characterization, Vol:37, ISSN:0934-0866
Macdonald TJ, Batmunkh M, Lin C-T, et al., 2019, Origin of performance enhancement in TiO2-carbon nanotube composite perovskite solar cells, Small Methods, Vol:3, ISSN:2366-9608, Pages:1-10
Patrick PS, Bogart LK, Macdonald TJ, et al., 2019, Surface radio-mineralisation mediates chelate-free radiolabelling of iron oxide nanoparticles, Chemical Science, Vol:10, ISSN:2041-6520, Pages:2592-2597
Ambroz F, Macdonald TJ, Nann T, 2017, Trends in aluminium-based intercalation batteries, Advanced Energy Materials, Vol:7, ISSN:1614-6832, Pages:1-16
Batmunkh M, Macdonald TJ, Shearer CJ, et al., 2017, Carbon nanotubes in TiO2nanofiber photoelectrodes for high-performance Perovskite solar cells, Advanced Science, Vol:4, ISSN:2198-3844, Pages:1-11