Julie Probst

Doctoral Student

+41 44 633 0632

Droplet Microfluidics, Lifetime Analysis, Semiconductor Nanocrystals, Perovskites, Upconversion, Microcapsules

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Solar energy is one of the most promising renewable energy sources available as it has the potential to meet our current and future energy supply needs. Combined efforts in chemistry and material sciences have been focused on the development and optimization of attractive materials for photovoltaics (PVs) and other sunlight based applications. In my work, I am interested in leveraging microfluidic tools to study and optimize relevant materials and systems in this field. My research interests include:

Perovskite nanocrystals synthesis and fundamental study

Perovskite nanocrystals are among the most researched candidates for use in PVs and other light-based applications due to their extraordinary optoelectronic properties, and thorough characterization and understanding of the fundamental mechanisms are critical for their optimization and further implementation into useful devices. In this regard, I synthesize lead halide perovskite nanocrystals in microfluidic devices with a focus on early-stage characterization and kinetics study via in-situ optical monitoring. Insights into the synthetic mechanism during the nucleation and growth phases will help to better engineer and tailor the QDs for specific applications. 

Upconversion microcapsules 

The ability to efficiently convert low-energy photons to high-energy ones could improve the efficiency of many sunlight based applications including solar cells, catalytic splitting of water to oxygen and hydrogen and the chemical storage of solar energy. Photo upconversion (UC), the process wherein light is emitted at a shorter wavelength than the excitation light, enables exactly that. In the context of leveraging microfluidic tools for novel light-emitting applications, I develop robust upconversion microcapsules that can associate a solid polymeric shell with a liquid core serving as an optimal upconversion medium. The microfluidic approach for microcapsules generation allows for unprecedented control over the capsules morphology and monodispersity and offers an ideal platform for screening and optimization of various upconverting molecular systems.