How Halide Perovskites Expanded the Frontiers of Solar Energy and Optoelectronics
Speaker
Mercouri G. Kanatzidis
Professor, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University
About This Talk
Three- and two-dimensional halide perovskites have emerged as an exceptional class of organic-inorganic semiconductors, distinguished by their remarkable carrier lifetimes and structural adaptability. Over the past decade, these materials have achieved record efficiencies in solar cells, light-emitting devices, and radiation detectors, driving rapid advancements in optoelectronic technologies. A critical next step is to deepen our understanding of how organic spacers influence their structure, properties, and performance.
This presentation will explore the origins of the field, examine the current state of structure-property relationships, and provide guidelines for the selection and integration of organic spacers into crystalline materials and optoelectronic devices. Recent insights are shedding light on which organic spacer cations can effectively stabilize different perovskite structures.
About the Speaker
Mercouri G. Kanatzidis is a chemist and materials scientist internationally recognized for pioneering work in thermoelectrics, chalcogenide chemistry, and halide perovskite materials for radiation detection and photovoltaics. He earned his B.Sc. from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. He is currently a professor at Northwestern University.
Kanatzidis published the first report in 2012 demonstrating the use of a halide perovskite semiconductor in a solid-state solar cell— a landmark achievement that helped launch a new era in photovoltaic research. He later demonstrated that single crystals of CsPbBr₃ function as efficient, high-resolution X-ray and gamma-ray detectors, establishing a new class of solution-processable semiconductors for radiation sensing.
His honors include the ENI Award for Advanced Renewable Energy, the American Chemical Society Award in the Chemistry of Materials, the American Physical Society’s James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials, the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Centenary Prize, the American Association for Crystal Growth Award, and the DOE Ten at Ten Scientific Ideas Award for his seminal contributions to halide perovskites. Kanatzidis was elected to both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
About the MSE Seminar Series
The Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Seminar Series features distinguished speakers from leading institutions, offering a platform for sharing groundbreaking research, innovative ideas, and entrepreneurial experiences. Held multiple times each semester, these seminars bring global perspectives world to MIT’s materials research community, exposing students, faculty, and postdocs to cutting-edge concepts and valuable networking opportunities.