Ph.D.
Unit: Department of New Energy Materials and Devices, College of Materials and Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology (CDUT)
Email: nafees@cdut.edu.cn

Basic Information：
　　Nafees Ahmad. He earned two Master's degrees: one in Chemistry and one in Science Education. In 2016, he was awarded the Chinese Academy of Sciences & The World Academy of Sciences (CAS-TWAS) President’s Fellowship for his doctoral studies. He completed his PhD in Physical Chemistry at the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2020. After completing his PhD, he conducted his Postdoc research at Shenzhen University and Central South University, China. In 2024, he joined the University of Glasgow, UK, as a Visiting Researcher. In 2025, Chengdu University of Technology appointed him as an Everest Talent - B2 Researcher under "Everest Talent Introduction Program" of Chengdu University of Technology.  His research focuses on organic and inorganic thin-film solar cells, with an emphasis on device engineering and the selection of materials for high-performance photovoltaic devices. He has contributed to over 40 publications (>2100 citations & H-index is 25), including prestigious journals such as Energy & Environmental Science, Advanced Science, InfoMat, and Journal of Materials Chemistry etc., as well as two books, book chapters, and two patents.

Courses:
Graduate/undergraduate course: Energy devices for sustainability

Research area：
Organic and inorganic thin film solar cells, device engineering, and material selection for solar devices

Research Project：
Chengdu University of Technology "Everest Talent Introduction Program" scientific research start-up fund

Publications：
Journal Articles
1.Ahmad, N., Zhao, Y., Ye, F., Zhao, J., Chen, S., Zheng, Z., Fan, P., Yan, C., Li, Y., Su, Z. and Zhang, X., 2023. Cadmium‐free kesterite thin‐film solar cells with high efficiency approaching 12%. Advanced Science, 10(26), p.2302869.
2.Ahmad, N., Yuan, J. and Zou, Y., 2025. One more step towards better stability of non-fullerene organic solar cells: advances, challenges, future perspectives, and the Era of artificial intelligence. Energy & Environmental Science, 18(11), pp.5093-5158.
3.Ahmad, N., Liang, G., Fan, P. and Zhou, H., 2022. Anode interfacial modification for non‐fullerene polymer solar cells: Recent advances and prospects. InfoMat, 4(12), p.e12370.
4.Ahmad, N., Zhou, H., Fan, P. and Liang, G., 2022. Recent progress in cathode interlayer materials for non‐fullerene organic solar cells. EcoMat, 4(1), p.e12156.
5.Ahmad, N., Yanxun, L., Zhang, X., Wang, B., Zhang, Y. and Zhou, H., 2020. A biopolymeric buffer layer improves device efficiency and stability in inverted organic solar cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 8(44), pp.15795-15803.
6.Ahmad, N., Zhang, X., Yang, S., Zhang, D., Wang, J., Uz Zafar, S., Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Hussain, S., Cheng, Z. and Kumaresan, A., 2019. Polydopamine/ZnO electron transport layers enhance charge extraction in inverted non-fullerene organic solar cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 7(35), pp.10795-10801.
7.Ahmad, N., Ibrahim, M.A., Sayed, S.R., Shah, S.S.A., Tahir, M.H. and Zou, Y., 2025. Data-mining and machine learning based search for optimal materials for perovskite and organic solar cells. Solar Energy, 287, p.113223.
8.Ahmad, N., Alsehli, B.R., Mahmood, A. and Zou, Y., 2025. Generation of library of dyes for photovoltaic applications: A machine learning assisted framework. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 459, p.116053.
9.Ahmad, N., Moussa, I.M., Mahmood, A. and Zou, Y., 2025. Designing of polymers for photovoltaics applications and prediction of band gap as a polymers screening criterion. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 8(4), pp.2543-2552.
10.Ahmad, N., Eid, G., El-Toony, M.M. and Mahmood, A., 2025. Harnessing machine learning for the rational design of high-performance fluorescent dyes. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 334, p.125918.
11.Ahmad, N., Badshah, A., Mahmoud, E.A. and Elansary, H.O., 2026. Data-driven design and screening of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) compounds using TADF likeness and synthetic accessibility scores. Chemical Physics, p.113143.
12.Xiao, B., Ahmad, N*., Mahmood, A. and Helal, M.H., 2025. Data mining and machine learning analysis to find polymers for electronic and photovoltaics applications: a goal to achieve higher dielectric constant. Advanced Theory and Simulations, 8(9), p.2500166.
13.Ahmad, N. and Mahmood, T., 2022. Preparation and properties of 4-aminobenzoic acid-modified polyvinyl chloride/titanium dioxide and PVC/TiO2 based nanocomposites membranes. Polymers and Polymer Composites, 30, p.09673911221099301.
14.Ahmad, N. and Wu, G., 2025. Cadmium-free buffer layer materials for kesterite thin-film solar cells: an overview. Energies, 18(12), p.3198.
15.Ahmad, N., Kausar, A. and Muhammad, B., 2016. An investigation on 4-aminobenzoic acid modified polyvinyl chloride/graphene oxide and PVC/graphene oxide based nanocomposite membranes. Journal of Plastic Film & Sheeting, 32(4), pp.419-448.
16.Ahmad, N., Kausar, A. and Muhammad, B., 2016. Structure and properties of 4-aminobenzoic acid-modified polyvinyl chloride and functionalized graphite-based membranes. Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures, 24(2), pp.75-87.
17.Ahmad, N., Kausar, A. and Muhammad, B., 2016. Perspectives on polyvinyl chloride and carbon nanofiller composite: a review. Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 55(10), pp.1076-1098.
18.Wu, G., Ahmad, N. and Zhang, Y., 2021. High-efficiency of 15.47% for two-dimensional perovskite solar cells processed by blade coating with non-thermal assistance. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 9(31), pp.9851-9858.
19.Luo, Y., Ma, H., Ahmad, N., Shah, U.A., Zheng, Z., Chen, S., Su, Z., Zhao, J., Zhang, X. and Liang, G., 2025. Rapid Thermal‐Driven Crystal Growth and Defect Suppression in Antimony Selenide Thin Film for Efficient Solar Cells. Small, 21(1), p.2403051.
20.Chen, X., Zhao, Y., Ahmad, N., Zhao, J., Zheng, Z., Su, Z., Peng, X., Li, X., Zhang, X., Fan, P. and Liang, G., 2024. Achieving high open-circuit voltage in efficient kesterite solar cells via lanthanide europium ion induced carrier lifetime enhancement. Nano Energy, 124, p.109448.
21.Yue, T., Li, K., Li, X., Ahmad, N., Kang, H., Cheng, Q., Zhang, Y., Yue, Y., Jing, Y., Wang, B. and Li, S., 2023. A binary solution strategy enables high-efficiency quasi-2D perovskite solar cells with excellent thermal stability. ACS nano, 17(15), pp.14632-14643.
22.Lin, J., Chen, G., Ahmad, N., Ishaq, M., Chen, S., Su, Z., Fan, P., Zhang, X., Zhang, Y. and Liang, G., 2023. Back contact interfacial modification mechanism in highly efficient antimony selenide thin-film solar cells. Journal of Energy Chemistry, 80, pp.256-264.
23.Luo, Y., Chen, G., Chen, S., Ahmad, N., Azam, M., Zheng, Z., Su, Z., Cathelinaud, M., Ma, H., Chen, Z. and Fan, P., 2023. Carrier transport enhancement mechanism in highly efficient antimony selenide thin‐film solar cell. Advanced Functional Materials, 33(14), p.2213941.
24.Li, K., Yue, S., Li, X., Ahmad, N., Cheng, Q., Wang, B., Zhang, X., Li, S., Li, Y., Huang, G. and Kang, H., 2022. High efficiency perovskite solar cells employing Quasi‐2D Ruddlesden‐Popper/Dion‐Jacobson heterojunctions. Advanced Functional Materials, 32(21), p.2200024.
25.Lin, J., Mahmood, A., Chen, G., Ahmad, N., Chen, M., Fan, P., Chen, S., Tang, R. and Liang, G., 2022. Crystallographic orientation control and defect passivation for high-efficient antimony selenide thin-film solar cells. Materials Today Physics, 27, p.100772.
26.Chen, X.Y., Ishaq, M., Ahmad, N., Tang, R., Zheng, Z.H., Hu, J.G., Su, Z.H., Fan, P., Liang, G.X. and Chen, S., 2022. Ag, Ti dual-cation substitution in Cu 2 ZnSn (S, Se) 4 induced growth promotion and defect suppression for high-efficiency solar cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 10(42), pp.22791-22802.
27.Wu, G., Yang, T., Li, X., Ahmad, N., Zhang, X., Yue, S., Zhou, J., Li, Y., Wang, H., Shi, X. and Liu, S.F., 2021. Molecular engineering for two-dimensional perovskites with photovoltaic efficiency exceeding 18%. Matter, 4(2), pp.582-599.
28.Wang, B., Bi, S., Zhou, J., Ahmad, N., Zhang, D., Zhang, Y. and Zhou, H., 2021. Enhanced stability in perovskite solar cells via room-temperature processing. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 9(41), pp.14749-14756.
29.Wang, K., Zhou, J., Li, X., Ahmad, N., Xia, H., Wu, G., Zhang, X., Wang, B., Zhang, D., Zou, Y. and Zhou, H., 2020. A surface modifier enhances the performance of the all-inorganic CsPbI 2 Br perovskite solar cells with efficiencies approaching 15%. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 22(32), pp.17847-17856.
30.Fan, P., Chen, G.J., Chen, S., Zheng, Z.H., Azam, M., Ahmad, N., Su, Z.H., Liang, G.X., Zhang, X.H. and Chen, Z.G., 2021. Quasi-vertically oriented Sb2Se3 thin-film solar cells with open-circuit voltage exceeding 500 mV prepared via close-space sublimation and selenization. ACS applied materials & interfaces, 13(39), pp.46671-46680.
31.Li, Y., Sun, X., Zhang, X., Zhang, D., Xia, H., Zhou, J., Ahmad, N., Leng, X., Yang, S., Zhang, Y. and Li, Z.A., 2020. Built-in voltage enhanced by in situ electrochemical polymerized undoped conjugated hole-transporting modifiers in organic solar cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 8(8), pp.2676-2681.
32.Kumaresan, A., Yang, S., Zhao, K., Ahmad, N., Zhou, J., Zheng, Z., Zhang, Y., Gao, Y., Zhou, H. and Tang, Z., 2019. Facile development of CoAl-LDHs/RGO nanocomposites as photocatalysts for efficient hydrogen generation from water splitting under visible-light irradiation. Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers, 6(7), pp.1753-1760.
33.Ahmad, F., Mahmood, A., El Azab, I.H., Ahmad, N., Mahmoud, M.H.H. and El-Bahy, Z.M., 2024. Machine learning assisted designing of Y-series small molecule acceptors: Library generation and property prediction. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 453, p.115670.
34.Liao, H., Lin, J., Hu, Q., Shah, W.A., Liu, H., Abbas, M., Ahmad, N., Zhuang, Z., Yao, J., Chen, S. and Zhao, X., 2026. Analysis of MoS2 as the electron transport layer in Cd-free Sb2 (S, Se) 3 thin-film solar cells by numerical simulation. Materials Science and Engineering: B, 324, p.119018.
35.Wu, G., Ahmad, N., and Zhang, Y., 2021. High-efficiency of 15.47% for two-dimensional perovskite solar cells processed by blade coating with non-thermal assistance. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 9(31), pp.9851-9858.

Books：
1.Erişen D.E, Uludag, K., Ahmad, N., 2024. "Nanomaterials and the Nervous System”. IGl Global Scientific Publishing. DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-3065-4. ISBN: 9798369330654
2.Uludag, K., Ahmad, N., 2025. "Chatbots and Mental Healthcare in Psychology and Psychiatry”. IGI Global Scientific Publishing. DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-3112-5. ISBN: 9798369331125

Chapters：
1.Ahmad, N. and Khan, Z.U., 2025. Polymer-Based Nanocomposite Membranes for Water Treatment. Tylor & Francis Group.
2.Ahmad, N., 2025. The Ethical Aspects of Chatbots and Beyond. IGI Global Scientific Publishing.

Patents：
1.Zhou, H., Ahmad, N., Wang, B., “一种氨基化氧化石墨烯纳米片的制备方法和在有机太阳能电池中的应用” CN113955748 A.  2022.
2.Zhou, H., Kumaresan, A., Li, Y., Ahmad, N. “一种层状双羟基化合物与多孔碳化三聚氰 胺复合材料及其制备方法和应用.” CN111939879 A. 2020.