Nanoscale & Nanoscale Advances Blog

Helical interfacial modulation for perovskite photovoltaics

Ghewa AlSabeh, Masaud Almalki, Sitthichok Kasemthaveechok, Marco A. Ruiz-Preciado, Hong Zhang, Nicolas Vanthuyne, Paul Zimmermann,  Daphne M. Dekker, Felix Thomas Eickemeyer, Alexander Hinderhofer, Frank Schreiber, Shaik M. Zakeeruddin, Bruno Ehrler, Jeanne Crassous, Jovana V. Milić and Michael Grätzel

	Ghewa AlSabeh is a doctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces at EPFL and the Adolphe Merkle Institute of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland since 2021. She obtained her MSc degree at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon in 2020 and joined the Smart Energy Mateirals team under the supervision of Prof. Jovana V. Milić and Prof. Michael Graetzel. Her research is focused on multifunctionality of layered perovskites and their light-induced transformations of in emerging technologies.
	Sitthichok (Chok) Kasemthaveechok, born and raised in Thailand. He obtained his PhD in 2021 under supervision of Dr. Jeanne Crassous and Dr. Ludovic Favereau. After his postdoctoral studies in Laboratoire d’électrochimie Moléculaire (LEM, Paris, 2022-23) with Dr. Niklas von Wolff  and Institut of chemical research of Catalonia (ICIQ, Tarragona, 2023-24) with Dr. Mónica Pérez-Temprano. From 2024, he joined the eMOCA team in Institut Parisien de Chimie Moleculaire (IPCM- Sorbonne University) as CNRS researcher. His current research focuses on (asymmetric) electrosynthesis by supramolecular chemistry approach.
	Dr. Jeanne Crassous (born Costante) received her Ph.D. in 1996 under the supervision of Prof. André Collet (ENS Lyon, France), on the chirality of bromochlorofluoromethane. After a postdoctoral period in Prof. François Diederich’s group (ETH Zurich, Switzerland) studying the chirality of fullerenes, she received a CNRS researcher position, in Lyon then in Rennes (ISCR, University of Rennes, France), where she is currently a CNRS Research Director. Her group is dealing with chirality: organometallic and heteroatomic helicenes, fundamental aspects of chirality such as parity violation effects, electronic and vibrational circular dichroism, circularly polarized luminescence, magnetochirality and spintronics.
	Bruno Ehrler is leading the Hybrid Solar Cells group at AMOLF in Amsterdam since 2014 and is also a honorary professor at the University of Groningen since 2020. Since 2024 he is the head of LMPV-Sustainable Energy Materials Department. His group focuses on perovskite materials science, both on the fundamental level, and for device applications.
	Jovana V. Milić has been Assistant Professor at the Adolphe Merkle Institute of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland since 2021, and Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Turku in Finland since 2024. She obtained her PhD in Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences of ETH Zurich in 2017 and worked as a scientist in the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces at EPFL in Switzerland. Her research is centred around developing stimuli-responsive (supra)molecular materials for energy conversion, with a particular focus on halide perovskite materials and their application in photovoltaics and smart (nano)technologies.

What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment?

Ghewa AlSabeh: I’m currently most excited about exploring ways to integrate smart molecules, specifically those responsive to light, heat, or pressure, into perovskite systems. This opens up promising pathways for creating multifunctional devices with tunable properties, which could be especially impactful in next-generation optoelectronic or sensing applications.

Sitthichok Kasemthaveechok: Right now, I desire to electrify chemical reaction. I want to turn it like we have done for most of things in our life from kitchen to transportation. But why chemical reaction still way difficult to electrify them? But I will try step by step, as electrochemistry is at the edge of homogeneous and heterogeneous system. I will need more experience about it to make the magic happen. 

Jeanne Crassous: The role of chirality in fundamental physics and in optoelectronic/spintronic devices.

Jovana V. Milić: The use of stimuli-responsive molecular machineries in sustainable energy technologies.

How do you feel about Nanoscale Advances as a place to publish research on this topic?

Ghewa AlSabeh: Nanoscale Advances is an ideal platform for our work on perovskites with responsive functionalities. Its focus on innovative nanomaterials and broad visibility makes it a strong fit for sharing this research.

Jeanne Crassous: Appropriate journal to publish new results on devices and the fundamental phenomena at work.

Jovana V. Milić: Nanoscale Advances provides an excellent platform to publish research on emerging materials and their utility in optoelectronics.

Can you share one piece of career-related advice for early career scientists?

Ghewa AlSabeh: Always ask yourself “why” and aim to understand things as simply as possible. If you can explain your work to someone who is not from the field, you truly understand it. And remember: a PhD is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself, stay curious, and don’t lose sight of the bigger picture.

Sitthichok Kasemthaveechok: I would say it is important to find the right group for you when choosing your PhD or postdoc positions.

Jeanne Crassous: Make experimental work and be trained to observe new phenomena. Be well-educated to understand the observed phenomena. 

Jovana V. Milić: Follow your own path, you are best qualified to define the measures of your success.

Understanding the effects of ethanol on the liposome bilayer structure using microfluidic-based time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics simulations

Masatoshi Maeki, Niko Kimura, Yuto Okada, Kazuki Shimizu, Kana Shibata, Yusuke Miyazaki, Akihiko Ishida, Kento Yonezawa, Nobutaka Shimizu, Wataru Shinoda and Manabu Tokeshi

	Dr Niko Kimura: JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC1), (April 1st, 2019–March 31st, 2021) Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering Hokkaido University, Japan Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering, (March 25, 2021) Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering Hokkaido University, Japan Assistant Professor, (April 1, 2021–August 31, 2023) Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering Kyushu University, Japan Senior Assistant Professor, (September 1, 2023–) Division of Advanced Mechanical Systems Engineering, Institute of Engineering Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan
	Masatoshi Maeki is an Associate Professor in the Division of Applied Chemistry at the Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University. He joined the university as an Assistant Professor in 2015 and was promoted to his current position in 2021. He is a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the MEXT Prize for Young Scientists (2024), the Hokkaido Science and Technology Encouragement Award (2023), the Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry Award for Young Researchers (2016), and the Young Innovator Award on Chemistry and Micro-Nano Systems (CHEMINAS Young Innovator Award) in 2015.
	Manabu Tokeshi is a Professor in the Division of Applied Chemistry at Hokkaido University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC). He serves as an Associate Editor of Lab on a Chip (RSC) and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Sensors and Actuators B (Elsevier). His achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Outstanding Researcher Award on Chemistry and Micro-Nano Systems from the Society for Chemistry and Micro-Nano Systems (2007), the Pioneers in Miniaturisation Prize from the Lab on a Chip (RSC)/Corning Inc. (2007), the Masao Horiba Award from HORIBA, Ltd. (2011) and The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry Award (2018).
	Wataru Shinoda received his Ph.D. in 1998 from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. He began his career at the Yokohama Research Laboratory of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation in the same year. In 2000, he joined the Industrial Technology Research Institute under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), and in 2001, he moved to the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). In 2014, he was appointed Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University. Since 2021, he has been serving as a Professor at the Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University. His research focuses on molecular modeling and molecular simulation of biomolecular assemblies and soft materials.
	Kana Shibata received her Bachelor’s degree from the School of Engineering, Nagoya University, in 2021. She obtained her Master’s degree in 2023 from the Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, where she conducted research on molecular dynamics simulations of biological membranes under the supervision of Professor Shinoda. She is currently employed at ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.

What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment?

Niko Kimura: In my opinion, the concept to visualize invisible nanometer-scaled molecular information based on the designed micrometer-scale environments.

Masatoshi Maeki: I am most excited about my work developing novel microfluidic devices, particularly for engineering lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for drug delivery and for biomolecular analysis.

Manabu Tokeshi: I am excited that our study has helped to shed light on the stability of RNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).

How do you feel about Nanoscale Advances as a place to publish research on this topic?

Masatoshi Maeki: Our paper is an excellent fit for Nanoscale Advances. It is a perfect match for the journal’s scope, and I am confident it will be of great interest to your readership.

Manabu Tokeshi: I believe this study aligns well with the scope and focus of Nanoscale Advances.

Can you share one piece of career-related advice for early career scientists?

Masatoshi Maeki: Always challenge yourself and don’t fear failure. I believe failure is simply a necessary stepping stone to success.

Manabu Tokeshi: Research is full of failures. What matters is to stay positive and keep going.

Enhancing photoluminescence performance of perovskite quantum dots with plasmonic nanoparticles: insights into mechanisms and light-emitting applications

Gautham Kumar, Chien-Chung Lin, Hao-Chung Kuo and Fang-Chung Chen

	Dr. Gauthm Kumar is a researcher in the field of photonics, electronic materials, and semiconductor devices. He earned his PhD from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the College of Semiconductor Research at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). With expertise in quantum dots and semiconductor devices, Dr. Kumar is deeply engaged in advancing optoelectronic and semiconductor technologies. His current research focuses on developing HfO2-based systems and technologies for storage-class memory and in-computing memory applications. Additionally, investigates the fundamental principles governing the positioning of emerging energy technologies, exploring their long-term societal and environmental impacts.
	Chien-Chung Lin received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He joined National Taiwan University in 2021 as the professor in the Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, and he was with National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) from 2009 to 2021. His research efforts are in design and fabrication of novel semiconductor optoelectronic devices. Since 2016, he has been jointly appointed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), where he participates and leads micro-LEDs and silicon photonics projects. Before NCTU, he worked for E2O communications and Santur Inc. in USA. He is a Fellow of the OPTICA.
	Hao-Chung Kuo received the Ph.D. degree from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, in 1999. Since October 2002, he has been a Faculty Member of the Institute of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. His current research interests include semiconductor lasers, vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, blue and UV LED lasers, quantum-confined optoelectronic structures, optoelectronic materials, and solar cells. He has authored or coauthored more than 400 journal papers and holds 35 granted and 20 pending patents. He has received OSA (2012), IET (2012), SPIE (2013), IEEE (2015) and IAAM Fellow (2021).
	Fang-Chung Chen is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Photonics (DoP), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. He received the B.S. and master’s degrees in chemistry from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, and the Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has been with DoP since Feb. 2004. He has published more than 160 journal papers and 5 book chapters. Prof. Chen is Optica Fellow and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. His research interests include organic/perovskite electronics and materials, plasmonic materials, machine learning for materials screening, and low-dimensional nanomaterials.

What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment?

We are extremely excited about our achievement in utilizing the localized surface plasmon resonance effects of metal nanoparticles to enhance the photoluminescence quantum yield of perovskite quantum dots to an impressive efficiency of 99%. We believe this result has transformative potential for next-generation optoelectronic devices.

How do you feel about Nanoscale Advances as a place to publish research on this topic?

Nanoscale Advances is a reputable platform for nanoscience research, providing an excellent opportunity for scientists and engineers to learn from each other’s work and gain cross-domain knowledge. Its interdisciplinary audience aligns well with the optoelectronic and materials science communities, enhancing visibility and impact. Additionally, as an open-access publication, it greatly facilitates knowledge sharing.

Can you share one piece of career-related advice for early career scientists?

Open your mind to listening and thinking. Developing multidisciplinary skills and actively pursuing collaborative opportunities will enhance the research impact in the fast-evolving field of nanoscale science.

We are delighted to announce the inaugural Nanoscale Advances Paper Prize, celebrating the most significant articles published in the journal in the previous calendar year! 

This year we recognise three outstanding papers that were published in 2024. Find the winner and runner-up papers below.

Nanoscale Advances 2025 Paper Prize Winner: 

Enhancing photoluminescence performance of perovskite quantum dots with plasmonic nanoparticles: insights into mechanisms and light-emitting applications

Gautham Kumar, Chien-Chung Lin, Hao-Chung Kuo and Fang-Chung Chen

Nanoscale Advances 2025 Paper Prize runner-up:

Understanding the effects of ethanol on the liposome bilayer structure using microfluidic-based time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics simulations

Masatoshi Maeki, Niko Kimura, Yuto Okada, Kazuki Shimizu, Kana Shibata, Yusuke Miyazaki, Akihiko Ishida, Kento Yonezawa, Nobutaka Shimizu, Wataru Shinoda and Manabu Tokeshi

Nanoscale Advances 2025 Paper Prize runner-up: Helical interfacial modulation for perovskite photovoltaics

Ghewa AlSabeh, Masaud Almalki, Sitthichok Kasemthaveechok, Marco A. Ruiz-Preciado,   Hong Zhang, Nicolas Vanthuyne, Paul Zimmermann,  Daphne M. Dekker, Felix Thomas Eickemeyer, Alexander Hinderhofer, Frank Schreiber, Shaik M. Zakeeruddin, Bruno Ehrler, Jeanne Crassous, Jovana V. Milić and Michael Grätzel