Jianbo Gao envisions a future where solar power is harnessed through an ultra-thin film, thinner than a strand of hair. His team is actively working to turn this vision into reality. This film could be integrated onto car roofs, windows, and a variety of other surfaces, with its wires connecting to and powering cellphones, tablets, vehicles, and other devices. Gao and his international research team have developed a new solar panel technology that is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, with the goal of utilizing free, abundant solar energy to power the world.
By using advanced materials, “we can double the efficiency of solar power generation”, says the Assistant Professor of Chemistry. “This new material is a very flexible coating that can even be put on clothing so that your clothes can generate electricity”. Gao has been awarded Brock University’s 2024 Award for Early Career Research and Creative Activity for his work in the area of photovoltaics, a method of converting sunlight into electricity.
“Through his breakthrough work, Dr. Gao aims to address climate change and the energy crisis, arguably two of the most challenging issues of our time”, says Acting Vice-President, Research Michelle McGinn. “His research focuses on the development of highly efficient and low-cost solar cells using the safest, cleanest and most abundant solar energy”.
Gao, an Affiliated Professor in the Yousef Haj-Ahmad Department of Engineering, joined Brock in 2022 after serving as an Assistant Professor of Physics at Clemson University in South Carolina. Prior to that, he was a Research Associate Specialist at the University of California, Berkeley. Gao is a trailblazer in incorporating quantum dots—human-made nanocrystals that rank among the smallest objects on earth—into solar cells.
These nanocrystals function as semiconductors and are expected to be utilized in future LED technology. Semiconductors are specialized materials that facilitate the flow of electrical currents between conductors, typically metals and insulators, such as ceramics. One type of nanocrystal, known as perovskite nanocrystals, has properties that Gao and his team have identified as especially efficient at capturing and converting sunlight into energy. Gao notes that perovskite nanocrystals can be sprayed onto ultra-thin, flexible plastic sheets, which can be applied in various locations.
Gao's work is extensively published. In the past six years, he has authored 34 peer-reviewed journal articles, garnering over 6,000 citations in esteemed scientific journals like Science, Nature Physics, Nature Communications, and Nano Letters. During this period, he also mentored eight PhD students, two master's students, and 13 undergraduate students in fields such as advanced laser spectroscopy, nanomaterials synthesis, and novel device development. “Dr. Gao is a natural leader and an inspiration to students who form the next generation of innovators to continue advancing this critical field”, says McGinn.
The Early-Career Research and Creative Activity Award, worth $5,000, is jointly funded by the Office of the Vice-President, Research, and the Brock University Faculty Association. This award honors outstanding achievements and potential in research, scholarly activity, and creative performance, as well as contributions to the training and mentoring of future scholars.
