Brief profile
Saiful is Professor of Materials Modelling at the University of Oxford. He grew up in Crouch End, north London, and obtained his Chemistry Degree and and PhD from University College London. He then held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Eastman Kodak Labs in Rochester, New York, USA. Saiful returned to the UK to the University of Surrey before joining the University of Bath as Professor of Materials Chemistry.
Saiful presented the 80th anniversary Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (2016) on the theme of energy. His outside interests include family breaks (as a dad to two), films and indie music, and he is a Patron of Humanists UK.
Research Overview: Materials for Clean Energy
In broad terms, our research programme uses advanced computer modelling methods in collaboration with experimental groups in the study of new solid state materials for “battery and solar cell” applications.
Lithium and Sodium Batteries: Cathode Materials and Solid Electrolytes
Rechargeable lithium batteries have helped in the worldwide revolution in portable electronics. Next-generation batteries for electric vehicles and grid storage will rely on the discovery and development of new materials.
Studies are being carried out on the following:
- Compounds based on Li(Ni,Mn,Co)O2, Li-rich layered oxides, and disordered rocksalt structures (e.g. Li2MnO2F), for Li-ion battery cathodes as part of the Faraday Institution CATMAT project.
- Novel Li-ion and Na-ion solid electrolytes such as argyrodite anti-perovskite, and thiophosphate materials.
Solar Cells: Halide Perovskites
Solar cell materials based on halide perovskites have shown rapid increases in solar-to-electricity conversion efficiencies. In general, we are studying the defect, transport and passivation behaviour of:
- Lead halides and mixed A-cation perovskites (FA,MA,Cs)PbI3
- Mixed tin-lead perovskites FA(Sn,Pb)I3, and novel 2D structures (e.g. Ruddlesden-Popper)
Recent Awards and Honours
- Faraday Institution STEM Outreach Award (2024)
- Institute of Materials (IOM3) Robert Perrin Award (2023)
- Royal Society Hughes Medal (2022)
- American Chemical Society (ACS) Henry H. Storch Award in Energy Chemistry (2020)
- Elected Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM) (2019)
- RSC Peter Day Award in Materials Chemistry (2017)
- Royal Institution Christmas Lecturer (2016)
- Patron of Humanists UK (2016)
- Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (2013-2018)
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Sustainable Energy Award (2013)
- RSC Materials Chemistry Division Lecturer Award (2011)
- RSC Francis Bacon Medal for Fuel Cell Science (2008)
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)(2008)
Prof Saiful Islam - Energy Materials Research Group 