Assist. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Azam | Perovskite optoelectronics | Best Researcher Award

Assistant professor at University of electronic science and technology, China

Dr. Muhammad Azam is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. His research focuses on the development of high-efficiency, thermally stable perovskite solar cells, particularly under solar thermal cycling. He specializes in defect passivation, hole transport layer engineering, and self-assembled monolayers for enhanced device performance. Dr. Azam earned his Ph.D. in Materials Physics and Chemistry from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and has authored numerous publications in top-tier journals including Science and Nature Communications. He is the Principal Investigator of a National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) project and a recipient of several academic honors, including the Outstanding Faculty Member Award (2024).

Publication Profile 

Orcid

Educational Background 

• Ph.D. in Materials Physics and Chemistry
  Institute of Semiconductors, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
  Duration: September 2015 – June 2019

• M.Sc. in Nanotechnology
  Center for Excellence in Solid State Physics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  Duration: September 2012 – August 2014

• B.Sc. in Computational Physics
  Center for High Energy Physics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  Duration: September 2009 – August 2011

Professional Experience 

• Research Assistant Professor
  School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
  Duration: September 2023 – Present

• Assistant Professor
  Department of Physics, FOST, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  Duration: October 2021 – August 2023

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  College of Physics & Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
  Duration: October 2019 – September 2021

Research Interests 

Dr. Azam’s research is centered on:

• Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs): Designing thermally stable and highly efficient devices.

• Deep-Level Defect Passivation: Using novel Lewis base molecules and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs).

• Hole Transport Layer (HTL) Engineering: Integration into P-i-N device architectures.

• Buried Interface Passivation and Hole Extraction: Development of SAMs with dual functions.

• Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology: Including polymer solar cells, Sb₂(S,Se)₃ thin films, nanowire lasers, and photo detectors.

• Characterization Techniques: SEM, AFM, XRD, Raman, PL, IPCE, TRPL, and more.

Awards and Honors 

• Outstanding Faculty Member, 2024
  University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

• Excellent International Graduate, 2019
  University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

• Excellent International Student, 2018
  University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Teaching & Supervisory Experience

• Completed “Teaching Excellence Program”, University of Central Punjab (2021).

• Taught undergraduate and graduate physics courses: Modern Physics, LASERS, Mechanics, Nuclear Physics.

• Supervised Master’s Theses:

  • Cesium-based Perovskite Solar Cells (2023)

  • Empirical Analysis of Organic-Inorganic Perovskites (2023)

• Mentored undergraduate final-year projects.

• Active in organizing academic seminars and research meetings.

Research Tools & Technical Expertise

• Thin Film Fabrication: Spin Coating, Sol-Gel, Hydrothermal

• Device Fabrication: Cleanroom processing, metal evaporation, wet etching

• Characterization Tools: SEM, AFM, XRD, PL, UV-Vis, TRPL, IPCE

• Device Testing: I-V measurement, impedance spectroscopy

• Lab Facilities: N₂ glove box, RTA ovens

Conclusion 

Dr. Muhammad Azam is an accomplished materials scientist and solar cell researcher with significant contributions to the field of next-generation photovoltaics. His research has addressed critical challenges in thermal stability, interface engineering, and defect passivation in perovskite solar cells. With a growing portfolio of high-impact publications—including work published in Science, Nature Communications, and Energy & Environmental Science—and a proven record of funded research and academic excellence, Dr. Azam stands out as a leading expert in emerging solar technologies.

Publications 

• Azam, M., Ma, Y., Zhang, B., Wan, Z., Shao, X., Malik, H. A., Yang, X., Luo, J., & Jia, C.
  Isomeric Selenasumanene-pyridine-based Hole-transporting Materials for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells,
  Energy & Environmental Science, Advance Article. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC05482B

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• Wan, Z., Wei, R., Jiang, S., Wang, Y., Yin, H., Zeng, H., Azam, M., Luo, J., & Jia, C.
  Increasing the Li-TFSI doping concentration in Spiro-OMeTAD enables efficient and stable perovskite solar cells,
  Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 13, 10690–10699.

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• Azam, M., Ma, Y., Zhang, B., Wan, Z., Shao, X., Malik, H. A., Yang, X., Luo, J., & Jia, C.
  Tailoring Pyridine Bridged Chalcogen-concave Molecules for Defects Passivation Enables Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells,
  Nature Communications, 16, 602.

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• Hassan, A., Ke, Z., Lin, W., Jin, Y., Cao, Y., Azam, M.*, & Xue, W.
  Synergistic effect of additive engineering and ultrafast laser crystallization enabled efficient and stable air-processed perovskite solar cells,
  Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells, 287, 113614.

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• Wan, Z., Wang, Y., Ma, Y., Azam, M., Zhang, B., Shao, X., Wei, R., Yin, H., Zeng, H., Luo, J., & Jia, C.
  Bipyridine-Thiosumanene Isomeric Lewis Bases for Synergistic Defect Passivation and Hole Extraction Enables over 26% Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells,
  Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

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• Luo, J., Zhang, N., Lin, W., Zhang, B., Zhu, J., Xu, X., Yu, W., Malik, H. A., Azam, M.*, Wan, Z., & Jia, C.
  Star-Shaped Boroxine-Linked Fluorinated Dopant for Spiro-OMeTAD Enables High Performance Perovskite Solar Cells,
  Journal of Materials Chemistry A.

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• Wan, Z., Wei, R., Wang, Y., Zeng, H., Yin, H., Azam, M., Luo, J., & Jia, C.
  Multifunctional MXene for thermal management in perovskite solar cells,
  Nano-Micro Letters.

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• Zhang, B., Luo, J., Yin, H., Li, Q., Sun, S., Zhang, N., Gan, N., Azam, M., Park, T. W., Wan, Z., Jia, C., Wei, M., & Park, S. M.
  A cross-linked molecular contact for stable operation of perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells,
  Science.

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• Azam, M., Du, T., Wan, Z., Zhao, H., Zeng, H., Wei, R., Brabec, C. J., Luo, J., & Jia, C.
  Dual functionality of charge extraction and interface passivation by self-assembled monolayers in perovskite solar cells,
  Energy & Environmental Science, 17, 6974–7016.

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• Azam, M.*, Ke, Z., Luo, J., Wan, Z., Hassan, A., & Jia, C.
  Additive engineering enabled non-radiative defect passivation with improved moisture-resistance in efficient and stable perovskite solar cells,
  Chemical Engineering Journal, 483, 149424.

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