Xinya Niu (22min)

Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research, University of Oxford

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Abstract

Continued improvements in photovoltaic efficiency and stability increasingly depend on interface properties within solar cells. In silicon photovoltaics, surface passivation arises from both chemical and field-effect mechanisms, whose contributions can be difficult to separate due to the coupled nature of interface recombination. Similar challenges arise in tandem solar cells, where the interplay between multiple functional layers and interfaces complicates the identification of mechanisms limiting device performance. This talk presents approaches to addressing these challenges through electrical and chemical characterisation, physical modelling, and device simulation. Examples range from quantifying and separating passivation mechanisms at silicon interfaces to investigating band alignment and carrier transport in tandem solar cells, linking the bulk and interfacial properties of functional layers to overall device performance.

Brief Bio

Xinya obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, in 2020. She then moved to the University of Oxford, where she completed her PhD in 2025 under the supervision of Prof. Sebastian Bonilla. Her doctoral research focused on understanding and engineering defects, charge, and interfaces in dielectric–semiconductor systems, with applications spanning silicon surface passivation and two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) field-effect transistors. Her work explored how charge and defects in dielectric materials can be controlled to modify semiconductor properties and improve device performance.

In July 2025, Xinya joined the Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research in Suzhou, China, as a Research Scientist, under the supervision of Prof. Sebastian Bonilla. Her current research focuses on transparent conductive oxide (TCO) materials for tandem solar cells and device simulation. Building on her expertise in thin-film fabrication and interface characterisation, she investigates the functional layers and interfaces within tandem photovoltaic devices, with particular emphasis on disentangling the complex relationships between their chemical, optical, and electrical properties.