Short Bio: Dr. S.F.U. Farhad is a materials and device physicist who received both B.Sc.(Hons) and M.S. degrees in Physics from the University of Dhaka. He earned his Ph.D. in Metal Oxide-based Solar Cells under a collaborative research project of the Electron microscopy group of the School of Physics and Electrochemistry group of the School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, UK. His current research focuses on eco-friendly materials for high-performance solar cells and solar fuels (H2). Dr. Farhad recently received prestigious UNESCO/TWAS and Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK research grants in these fields. He has authored and co-authored 50 publications and got more than 1450 citations (h-index:19; i10-index: 32). He has two accepted processes. Dr. Farhad has also engaged in the design and modification of the components, process design and optimization of electrical and optoelectronic parameters, and new installation and commissioning of state-of-the-art instruments related to renewable energy application and energy efficiency. He is a member of IoP(UK), MRS(USA), ACS(USA), RSC(UK), and a life member of BPS and BAAS. He also acts as a principal coordinator of material sciences equipment in the Central Analytical and Research Facilities (CARF), BCSIR.

Expertise/ Research Areas

Dr. Farhad's research expertise/interests lie in the following specific areas:                    

• Low-cost and Environment-friendly materials synthesis and their property optimization for thin-film photovoltaic devices.
• Nanostructured Electrodes for Photoelectrochemical cell/Photocatalytic water-splitting (Solar Hydrogen)
• Highly Efficient III-V bismide-based multi-junction solar cell, Perovskite, and Organi-Inorganic hybrid solar cells
• Graphene and other 2D materials synthesis for optoelectronic/energy storage devices
• Development of low-cost laboratory equipment (Portable Spin coater, Hall-measurement head assembly with a variable gap permanent magnet yoke, Pressure sensor integrated four-point collinear probes, multi-probe workstation, Ultra-high resistance measurement setup, etc.)

Research Keywords: Electron Microscopy and Diffraction techniques (SEM/TEM, PXRD); Confocal micro-Raman and Photoluminescence spectroscopic techniques; Surface Morphology Analyses by AFM; Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (VASE); Semiconducting Metal Oxides; Wide Band Gap Nanomaterials; Band Gap and Interface Engineering; (Photo)Electrochemistry and Electrodeposition.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. (Physics; March 2016): HH Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol (UoB), UK.

Thesis: Copper Oxide thin films grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition for Photovoltaic Applications. (click here 1 & 2 )

M.S.(Physics; September 2007): University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Thesis:  Construction of a Laser Raman System and its Application in the Analysis of Chemical Products (click here 1 & 2 )

B. Sc. (Physics; July 2005): University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

TEACHING AND MENTORING

• Adjunct Faculty: Renewable Energy Technology for Prime University B.Sc. EEE 419 course (continuing since 2023)
• Teaching Assistant (October 2011 – October 2013):  Teaching first-year undergraduate lab sessions, School of Physics, University of Bristol, UK. Grading exam papers, lab reports, Invigilating exams, etc.)
• Mentoring: Mentored 2 M.Sc. (Physics), 2 B.Sc. (Material Chemistry), and 2 B.Sc. (Physics) students during doctoral research at the University of Bristol, UK.
• Co-supervised/mentored 1 Ph.D. (IEEE), 2 M.Phil. (Physics), 5 M.Sc. (Physics), 1 M.Sc.(IEEE) and one 3 M.Sc. (Materials Chemistry) student from different public universities in Bangladesh under the metal oxide-based energy harvesting and storage projects. (As of November 2021)
• Professional Trainer: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV-VIS-NIR and (Confocal) Raman/Photoluminescence, GIXRD/XRR/XRD; ImageJ and Origin Lab Pro Graphing software.  (Designed the course module and conducted Hands-on practical sessions and Evaluation exams for BCSIR scientists from different institutes and labs)

GRANTS

• UNESCO/TWAS Research Grants_Physics (Individual): Ref.# 2020 TWAS Research Grant Award_20-143 RG/PHYS/AS_I (USD 15,900.00) for the R&D project entitled "Gold nanoparticle decorated ZnO Nanorod arrays for eco-friendly, highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells."
• Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK Research Grant: Ref.# R20-3167 (GBP 4650.00) for the R&D project entitled "Facile Synthesis of Ecofriendly Perovskite Absorber Materials for Photovoltaic Applications."
• Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK Researcher Collaborations Grant: Ref.# C23-6246799638 (GBP 5000.00) for the R&D project entitled “Low Temperature Processed Zinc Chalcogenide Nanocrystals Decorated ZnO Nanorods for Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells.”
• TWAS-UNESCO 2024 Maintenance Grant: Ref.#FR Number: 3240339515 (USD:2990.00)
• Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of Bangladesh (GoB), Grant for Advanced Research in Education (GARE), Ref.# PS20232528-94 (USD 20,000.00) for the project entitled “Fabrication of lead-free absorber layers for nanoengineered perovskite solar cells.”
• Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Government of Bangladesh (GoB), Special Allocation Project (SAP) grants for the project entitled "Construction of Low-Cost Equipment for Solar Energy Materials Synthesis and Characterization (EAS-400)."
• Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Government of Bangladesh (GoB), Special Allocation Project (SAP) grants for the project entitled "Fabrication of Multinary Metal Oxide Photoclectrodes For SunIight driven Hydrogen production (ES-404)."

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

• RSC Researcher Development & Travel Grant to attend the Materials Today Conference, Singapore 2-5 Aug. 2023
• IEEE EDS_ISA fund to attend the IEEE 47^th PVSC virtual conference 15 Jun. – 21 Aug. 2020
• Early Career Researchers Funds to attend MRS meeting, Boston, MA, USA, 25- 30 Nov. 2018
• Full Scholarship to attend ISMES VI at Caltech, Pasadena, CA, USA      16 – 22 July 2017
• Kurt Hoselitz Fund, School of Physics, University of Bristol, UK.    Nov. 2015 – Jan. 2016
• Bursaries/Research Grant from The Charles Wales Bangladesh Trust, UK,        Dec. 2015
• University of Bristol Alumni Travel grant, MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibition, USA,    2014
• University of Bristol, UK postgraduate Scholarship/studentship,      Oct. 2011 – Oct. 2015

                               [Charles Frank Bursary Fund and HH porter Bursary Fund]

• Bangabandhu Fellowship in Science and ICT, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of Bangladesh       2011 – 2015
• Ministry of Science & Technology, NSICT Fellowship,                       June 2004 – July 2005

PUBLICATIONS      (for the complete list of publications, click here )

SELECTED RESEARCH ARTICLES (* = Corresponding author)

[1] S.F.U.Farhad*, M.I. Naher, N.I. Tanvir et al. “A facile top-down synthesis of phase pure and tunable bandgap CuBi₂O₄ photocathode materials by low-energy sequential ball milling” ACS Applied Energy Materials, September 2024.

[2] S.F.U.Farhad*, N.I. Tanvir, N.A. Bitu et al. “Conformal Zinc Sulfide coating of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods by two-step hydrothermal synthesis on wide bandgap seed layers for lead-free perovskite solar cells” Nanotechnology (IOP), 35, 385704, 2024.

[3] S.M.N. Mamun, S.F.U.Farhad, N.I. Tanvir, M.A. Rahman, “Simulation and interpretation of zinc and nitrogen dopants induced defect emissions in monoclinic gallium oxide” Materials Today Physics (Elsevier), 45, 101503, 2024.

[4] A. Kowsar, M. Shafayet-Ul-Islam, M.A.A.Shaikh, M.L. Palash, A. Kuddus, S.F.U.Farhad*, “Enhanced photoconversion efficiency of Cu₂MnSnS₄ solar cells by Sn-/Zn-based oxides and chalcogenides buffer and electron transport layers” Solar Energy, 265, 112096, 2023.

[5] M.S. Habib, S.F.U.Farhad*, N.I. Tanvir, et al. “Fabrication and Characterization of Graphene-Barium Titanate-Graphene layered capacitors by spin coating at low processing temperatures” ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology, 2023. 

[6] N. Munna, R. Abdur, R. Islam, M.S. Bashar, S.F.U. Farhad et al.,“Influence of Sn doping on the optoelectronic properties of ZnO nanoparticles” Nanoscale Advances 2023.

[7] M. N. A. Bitu, N.I. Tanvir, S. Islam, and S.F.U. Farhad*, “Effect of substrate surface on the wide bandgap SnO₂ thin films grown by spin coating” MRS Advances, 8, 194 -200, 2023.

[8] A.K.S. Gupta, S.F.U. Farhad, M.S. Habib, et al., “Characterizations of extrinsically doped CZTS thin films for solar cell absorbers fabricated by sol-gel spin coating method,” Applied Surface Science Advances, 13, 100352, 2023.

[9] R.B. Alam, M.H. Ahmad, S.F.U. Farhad, and M.R. Islam, “Significantly Improved Dielectric Performance of Bio-inspired Gelatin /Single walled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite” Journal of Applied Physics, 131(12), 124103, 2022.

[10] M.H. Ahmad, R.B. Alam, A. Hamid, S.F.U. Farhad et al., “Hydrothermal synthesis of Co₃O₄ nanoparticles decorated three-dimensional MoS₂ nanoflower for exceptionally stable supercapacitor electrode with improved capacitive performance” Journal of Energy Storage, 47, 103551, 2022. 

[11] J.F. Tanha, S.F.U. Farhad*, U. Honey, N.I. Tanvir et al. "A DFT+U look into experimentally synthesized monoclinic scheelite BiVO₄", Journal of Applied Physics, 130(23), 235107, 2021.

[12] M. R. Islam, S.F.U. Farhad et al. "Synthesis, characterization and visible light-responsive photocatalysis properties of Ce doped CuO nanoparticles:  A combined experimental and DFT+U study" Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 126386, 2021. 

[13] B.C. Gosh, S.F.U. Farhad^* et al. "Influence of substrate, process conditions, and post-annealing temperature on the properties of nanocrystalline ZnO thin films grown by the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction Method" ACS Omega, 6, 4, 2665–2674, 2021. 

[14] S.F.U. Farhad^*, "The effect of substrate temperature and oxygen partial pressure on the properties of nanocrystalline copper oxide thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition" Data in Brief, (Elsevier), 106644, 2020. 

[15] S.F.U. Farhad^*, D. Cherns, J. A. Smith, N. A. Fox, and D. J. Fermín, "Pulsed laser deposition of single-phase n- and p-type copper oxide thin films with low resistivity" Materials & Design (Elsevier), Vol. 193, 108884, 2020.  

[16]  N. K. Das, J. Chakrabartty, S. F. U. Farhad, A. K. Sen Gupta, E. M. K. Ikball Ahamed, K. S. Rahman, A. Wafi, A. Ammar, M.A. Matin, and  N. Amin, "Effect of Substrate Temperature on the Properties of RF Sputtered CdS Thin Films for Solar Cell Applications," Result in physics (Elsevier), Volume 17,103132, 2020. 

[17] S.F.U. Farhad^*, Md. A. Hossain, N.I. Tanvir, R. Akter, Md. A. M. Patwary, M. Shahjahan, and M.A. Rahman, "Structural, Optical, Electrical, and Photoelectrochemical properties of Cuprous Oxide thin films grown by a modified SILAR method" Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. (Elsevier), 95, 68-75, 2019 .

[18]  S.F.U. Farhad^*, N.I.Tanvir, M.S. Bashar, and M. Sultana, "Synthesis and Characterization of c-Axis Oriented Zinc Oxide Thin films and Its use for the subsequent hydrothermal Growth of Zinc Oxide Nanorods" MRS Advances (Springer), 4(16), 921 – 928, 2019.

[19] Muhammad Rakibul Islam, Mukhlasur Rahman, S.F.U. Farhad, and Jiban Podder, "Structural, optical and photocatalysis properties of sol-gel deposited Al-doped ZnO thin films", Surfaces and Interfaces (Elsevier), 16, 120 - 126, 2019.

[20]  Abu Kowsar, Mashudur Rahaman, Md. Saidul Islam, Syed Farid Uddin Farhad et al., "Progress in Major Thin-film Solar Cells: Growth Technologies, Layer Materials, and  Efficiencies", International Journal of Renewable Energy Research (Scopus); Volume 9, Issue 2,579-597, 2019.

[21] Syed Farid Uddin Farhad^*, Richard F Webster, and David Cherns, "Electron microscopy and diffraction studies of Pulsed laser deposited cuprous oxide thin films grown at Low Substrate Temperatures" Materialia(Elsevier), 3, 230 – 238, 2018.

[22] Aminul I. Talukder, Parvin Sultana, A.F.M. Y. Haider, M. Wahedoszamen, K.M. Abedin, and S.F.U. Farhad; "Power Dependence of Size of Laser Ablated Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles" The European Physical Journal D (Springer), 60, 295-300, 2010.

[23] Syed Farid Uddin Farhad, Kazi Monowar Abedin, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Aminul Islam Talukdar and A. F. M. Yusuf Haider, "Determination of Ratio of Unsaturated to total Fatty Acids in Edible Oils by Laser Raman Spectroscopy" Journal of Applied Sciences (Science Alert), 9(8),1538-1543, 2009.

INVITED TALK/CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

[1] S.F.U. Farhad delivered an Invited Talk entitled “Nanomaterials for High Performance Solar Cells, Solar Fuels & Sensors" hosted by Dhaka University Nanotechnology Center (DUNC), at the Inception Ceremony of DUNC Seminars, CARS Seminar Room, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, October 19, 2023.

[2] S.F.U. Farhad delivered a Keynote Speech entitled “Materials and Device Physics R&Ds @ BCSIR: Current Activities & Future Prospects towards 4IR" hosted by the Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Centre for Research, Human Resource Development and Publications (CRHP), Prime University, Dhaka 1216, October 18, 2023.

[3] S.F.U. Farhad delivered an Invited Talk entitled “Ecofriendly and Nanostructured Metal Oxide Materials for Solar Cells and Solar Fuels" hosted by Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Selangor, Bangi, Malaysia, August 9, 2023.

[4] S.F.U.Farhad*, N.I. Tanvir, N.A. Bitu et al. “Zinc Sulfide Nanocrystals decorated vertically aligned ZnO Nanorods on Wide bandgap seed layers for Lead-free Perovskite Solar Cells” (PA.26) presented in the Materials Today Conference (Elsevier), 2023, 2-5 August, Singapore.

[5]  S.F.U. Farhad^*, M.I. Naher et al. "Phase Pure CuBi₂O₃ with Tunable Optical Bandgaps for Photocathodes" presented (poster ID#P51) at The 3^rd Commonwealth Chemistry Posters (Video link), (Royal of Society Chemistry, UK), Sep 28 – 29, 2022.

[6]  S.F.U. Farhad^*, M.S. Islam et al. "Development of an LED-based Light Source with Selectable Wavelengths, Intensities, and Illumination Periods for Renewable Energy Research" presented (poster ID#P52) at The 3^rd Commonwealth Chemistry Posters (Video link), (Royal of Society Chemistry, UK), Sep 28 – 29, 2022.

[7]  S.F.U. Farhad, M.Z. Baten et al. "Enhanced and Tunable Absorption Characteristics of Au-nanoparticle loaded ZnO Nanorods Grown by Hydrothermal Technique" presented (paper ID#103) at The 4^th IEEE International Conference on Telecommunications and Photonics (ICTP) Dec 22-24, 2021.

[8]  S.F.U. Farhad^* et al. "Facile Synthesis and Characterization of BiVO₄ and CuBi₂O₄ for self-sustained photoelectrochemical water splitting devices" presented (poster ID#18) at Horizons 2021- Energy Storage and Conversion (Applied Physics Reviews-Virtual Conference) August 4-6, 2021.

[9]  S.F.U. Farhad^* et al. "Bismuth based Metal Oxide Photoelectrode Materials for Photoelectrochemical Generation of Solar Fuels" presented (poster ID#P25) at the International Solar Fuels Conference (RSC, UK), July 26-29, 2021.

[10]  S.F.U. Farhad presented an Invited Talk entitled "Semiconducting Metal Oxides for Solar Energy Conversion and Storage Devices" organized by "The IEEE Electron Device Society(EDS)-BUET Student Chapter, April 10, 2021.

[11]  S.F.U. Farhad, "Ecofriendly Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Solar Energy Conversion and Storage" (Abstract Reference#IL-C01 page#107) presented an Invited Talk at "International Conference on Science and Technology for Celebrating the Birth Centenary Of Bangabandhu (ICSTB-2021), March 11- 13 21, 2021.

[12]  S.F.U. Farhad^*  et al. "Synthesis and Characterization of c-Axis Oriented Zinc Oxide Thin films and Its use for the subsequent hydrothermal Growth of Zinc Oxide Nanorods" oral presentation at symposium ET11 in the MRS Fall Meeting and Exhibit, 25 – 30 November, 2018, Boston, MA. USA

[13]  S.F.U. Farhad^*,  and  D. Cherns, "Structural Studies of Pulsed laser deposited Cuprous oxide thin films grown at Low Substrate Temperatures" Poster presentation at Sixth International School for Materials for Energy and Sustainability (ISMES VI), 16 -22  July, 2017, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.  

[14]  S.F.U. Farhad^*,  and  D. Cherns, "Structural Studies of Pulsed laser deposited Cuprous oxide thin films grown at Low Substrate Temperatures" poster presentation at Symposium J: Physics of Oxide thin films (J8.30) the MRS Spring Meeting and Exhibit, 20 – 25 April, 2014, San Francisco, CA, USA.