Prof. Yu Han

Academic Staff

Assistant Professor

ORCID ID

SCOPUS ID

Research Overview

My research focuses on the design and synthesis of novel organic aromatic systems and conjugated polymers. We use comprehensive characterization methods, including computational, morphological, and spectroscopic studies, to explore the structure-property-performance relationship of conjugated molecules. My team currently aims to apply conjugated molecules in organic/perovskite photovoltaics, photothermal therapy, photocatalysis, and other photo conversional applications.

Research Interests

Education and Academic Qualifications

Bachelor of Science, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University
Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Professional Qualifications

Youth Editorial Board Member, Journal of Science China Materials
Member, Chinese Chemical Society

Achievements

Research Talent Hub, Innovation and Technology Commission, Hong Kong (2022 – 2024)
HKUST RedBird PhD Scholarship, Hong Kong (2021)
HK JEBN Scholarship for Talents, Hong Kong (2018 - 2021)
The 3rd Prize of Beijing Physical Society Physics Contest, Beijing Physical Society (2014)
Social Work Prize, Peking University (2014)
The 1st Prize of Chinese Chemistry Olympiad, Chinese Chemical Society (2012)

Yu, H., Chow, P. C. Y., Yan, H. Synthesis and application of fused ring benzoselenadiazole non-fullerene acceptor material, Chinese Patent Application No. 202010186531.X, March 17, 2020.
Yu, H., Yan, H. Synthesis of fluorinated fused ring benzothiadiazole polymer acceptor material, Chinese Patent Application No. 202110370954.1, April 07, 2021.

Zou, B.; Ng, H. M.; Yu, H.; Ding, P.; Yao, J.; Chen, D.; Pun, S. H.; Hu, H.; Ding, K.; Ma, R.; Qammar, M.; Liu, W.; Wu, W.; Lai, J. Y. L.; Zhao, C.; Pan, M.; Guo, L.; Halpert, J. E.; Ade, H.; Li, G.; Yan, H. Precisely Controlling Polymer Acceptors with Weak Intramolecular Charge Transfer Effect and Superior Coplanarity for Efficient Indoor All-Polymer Solar Cells with over 27% Efficiency. Advanced Materials 2024, 36, 2405404. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202405404
Yu, H.; Zhao, C.; Hu, H.; Zhu, S.; Zou, B.; Dela Peña, T. A.; Ng, H. M.; Kwok, C. H.; Yi, J.; Liu, W.; Li, M.; Wu, J.; Zhang, G.; Chen, Y.; Yan, H. An efficient alkoxy-substituted polymer acceptor for efficient all-polymer solar cells with low voltage loss and versatile photovoltaic applications. Energy & Environmental Science 2024, 17, 5191–5199, 10.1039/D4EE01804D. DOI: 10.1039/D4EE01804D
Yu, H.; Wang, Y.; Kwok, C. H.; Zhou, R.; Yao, Z.; Mukherjee, S.; Sergeev, A.; Hu, H.; Fu, Y.; Ng, H. M.; Chen, L.; Zhang, D.; Zhao, D.; Zheng, Z.; Lu, X.; Yin, H.; Wong, K. S.; Ade, H.; Zhang, C.; Zhu, Z.; Yan, H. A polymer acceptor with double-decker configuration enhances molecular packing for high-performance all-polymer solar cells. Joule 2024, 8, 2304–2324. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2024.06.010
Yi, J.; Zhang, G.; Yu, H.; Yan, H. Advantages, challenges and molecular design of different material types used in organic solar cells. Nature Reviews Materials 2024, 9, 46–62. DOI: 10.1038/s41578-023-00618-1
Yu, H.; Wang, Y.; Zou, X.; Yin, J.; Shi, X.; Li, Y.; Zhao, H.; Wang, L.; Ng, H. M.; Zou, B.; Lu, X.; Wong, K. S.; Ma, W.; Zhu, Z.; Yan, H.; Chen, S. Improved photovoltaic performance and robustness of all-polymer solar cells enabled by a polyfullerene guest acceptor. Nature Communications 2023, 14, 2323. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37738-9
Yu, H.; Wang, Y.; Zou, X.; Han, H.; Kim, H. K.; Yao, Z.; Wang, Z.; Li, Y.; Ng, H. M.; Zhou, W.; Zhang, J.; Chen, S.; Lu, X.; Wong, K. S.; Zhu, Z.; Yan, H.; Hu, H. Effects of Halogenation of Small-Molecule and Polymeric Acceptors for Efficient Organic Solar Cells. Advanced Functional Materials 2023, 33, 2300712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202300712
Yu, H.; Wang, Y.; Kim, H. K.; Wu, X.; Li, Y.; Yao, Z.; Pan, M.; Zou, X.; Zhang, J.; Chen, S.; Zhao, D.; Huang, F.; Lu, X.; Zhu, Z.; Yan, H. A Vinylene-Linker-Based Polymer Acceptor Featuring a Coplanar and Rigid Molecular Conformation Enables High-Performance All-Polymer Solar Cells with Over 17% Efficiency. Advanced Materials 2022, 34, 2200361. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202200361
Yu, H.; Qi, Z.; Yu, J.; Xiao, Y.; Sun, R.; Luo, Z.; Cheung, A. M. H.; Zhang, J.; Sun, H.; Zhou, W.; Chen, S.; Guo, X.; Lu, X.; Gao, F.; Min, J.; Yan, H. Fluorinated End Group Enables High-Performance All-Polymer Solar Cells with Near-Infrared Absorption and Enhanced Device Efficiency over 14%. Advanced Energy Materials 2021, 11, 2003171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202003171
Yu, H.; Pan, M.; Sun, R.; Agunawela, I.; Zhang, J.; Li, Y.; Qi, Z.; Han, H.; Zou, X.; Zhou, W.; Chen, S.; Lai, J. Y. L.; Luo, S.; Luo, Z.; Zhao, D.; Lu, X.; Ade, H.; Huang, F.; Min, J.; Yan, H. Regio-Regular Polymer Acceptors Enabled by Determined Fluorination on End Groups for All-Polymer Solar Cells with 15.2 % Efficiency. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2021, 60, 10137–10146. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202016284
Sun, R.; Wang, W.; Yu, H.; Chen, Z.; Xia, X.; Shen, H.; Guo, J.; Shi, M.; Zheng, Y.; Wu, Y.; Yang, W.; Wang, T.; Wu, Q.; Yang, Y.; Lu, X.; Xia, J.; Brabec, C. J.; Yan, H.; Li, Y.; Min, J. Achieving over 17% efficiency of ternary all-polymer solar cells with two well-compatible polymer acceptors. Joule 2021, 5, 1548–1565. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2021.04.007