James Durrant is Professor of Photochemistry in the Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London and Sêr Cymru Solar Professor, College of Engineering University of Swansea. His research addresses the photochemistry of new materials for solar energy conversion – targeting both solar cells (photovoltaics) and solar to fuel (i.e.: artificial photosynthesis). It is based around employing transient optical and optoelectronic techniques to address materials function, and thereby elucidate design principles which can help guide technological development. His research is currently addressing the development and functional characterisation of organic and perovskite solar cells, and photoelectrodes and photocatalysts for solar driven fuel synthesis.
In addition to his core research activities, Professor Durrant leads Imperial’s Centre for Plastic Electronics and the Welsh government funded Sêr Cymru Solar initiative. He also founded the UK’s Solar Fuels Network, and was founding Deputy Director of Imperial’s Energy Futures Laboratory.
His awards include both the Environment (2009) and Tilden (2012) Prizes of the RSC. He was elected a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales in 2016.
Professional position
- Professor of Photochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London
Subject groups
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Chemistry
Chemistry, materials, Chemistry, physical
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Engineering and Materials Science
Materials science (incl materials engineering)
Awards
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Hughes Medal
For his distinguished photochemical studies for the design solar energy devices, particular by transient spectroscopic studies of dye sensitized solar cells and of photoelectrochemical water splitting.
