I am a materials scientist mainly focusing on polar functional materials, especially in the form of metal oxides. We synthesise bulk and thin films via multiple methods including solid-state reactions and pulsed laser/electron deposition. My research mainly focuses on:

1. atomistic structural model: by using advanced experimental (total scattering and diffuse scattering) and theoretical (Monte Carlo/Reverse Monte Carlo simulations, machine learning and density functional theory) to extract hidden structural information beyond the traditional crystallography, helping understand of the structural origin of the functional materials and develop new design strategy.

2. novel functionalities: investigating materials that respond to external stimuli such as temperature, electric fields, and light. Currently, the focus is on photofunctional materials that absorb light to generate electrical and mechanical responses, enabling applications such as self-powered photodetectors and light-driven actuators.

3. nanoscale multifunctional characterisations: developing new nanoscale characterisation methods based on atomic force microscopy (AFM). This involves mapping surface chemistry or local electrical and mechanical signals under different stimuli, providing high-precision and novel techniques for local functionality mapping.