Photothermal Research Laboratory
Head
Szymon Zelewski
office: A-1, 405
phone: +48 71 320 38 19
PhD Students
Ada Drwęcka
office: A-1, 434A
phone:
Karol Rauch
office: A-1, 434A
research
The Photothermal Research Laboratory undertakes activities at the intersection of physics and materials science, with a primary focus on experimental investigations into the optical and thermal properties of emerging semiconductors. Our work tackles critical challenges by providing possible ways to reduce heat losses in electronic devices, accompanied by enhancing the efficiency of renewable energy sources.
Our key research objectives include:
- Revealing factors limiting the efficiency of thin-film solar cells through studies of electronic disorder in the active layer, enabled by photothermal deflection spectroscopy – a highly sensitive method for measuring optical absorption spectra.
- Investigating heat management and interfacial effects in light-emitting nanostructures to set new directions improving their performance and operational stability.
- Developing new ways to harvest heat and light energy, building upon systematic studies of the extremes of heat transfer.
The group hosts advanced experimental tools, some unique on the national level: transient thermoreflectance laser pump-probe systems (time-domain and frequency-domain) and a state-of-the-art, custom-made photothermal spectroscopy setup. We are committed to making further contributions to the field by exploring novel applications of photothermal energy conversion (integrating optical excitation and temperature sensing) in various areas of research and technology.