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James Gardner

Profile picture of James Gardner

Associate professor

Details

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Address
Teknikringen 30
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Researcher


About me

James Gardner graduated from Tulane University with a joint Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Environmental Science in 2004 and received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Johns Hopkins University in 2009. James joined the faculty of KTH in 2012 as the Assistant Professor of Photoelectrochemistry. Photochemistry was been a focus for in James' research since he was a PhD student studing the photochemical formation of chemical bonds. During his post-doctoral research at Uppsala University (2009-2011), Dr. Gardner explored interfacial charge transfer chemistry by time-resolved spectroscopies. In 2016, James received the title of Docent and was promoted to tenured Associate Professor. From 2018 to 2024, Dr. Gardner was the Division Head for Applied Physical Chemistry. Those same years, James was Deputy Head of the Center for Molecular Devices (CMD). The CMD is a collaborative research environment between KTH and Uppsala University that focuses on all aspects of emerging solar cell technologies. Dr. Gardner is currently an editor at the journalsEnergies (since 2020) andNanoenergy Advances (since 2022).

My Research

The photochemistry and photophysics of molecules at interfaces have been an overarching research theme. Of particular interest is understanding the energetics, kinetics, and conditions that promote interfacial charge transfer chemistry as this relates to dye-sensitized, quantum dot, and perovskite solar cells.

To understand interfacial charge transfer in perovskite solar cells, the Gardner lab applies its expertise to the synthesisphotophysics, and photochemistry of perovskites. An overarching goal of these studies is to make safe and stable materials for high efficiency solar cells.

Photoluminescence to study phase changes

Our studies of molecular materials have focused on copper compounds for use in dye-sensitized solar cells , sensors, and optoelectronic applications.

Cooper compounds in solar cells, sensors, and optoelectronics

Copper coordination complexes may one day supplant ruthenium complexes as the go-to photochemistry molecules. These molecules have similarly long excited state lifetimes, rely on an abundant metal, and have comparatively direct syntheses. However, these molecules are hampered by their relative (photo)chemical instability. A deeper understanding of the bonding in copper coordination may lead to more robust molecules and less expensive solar cells.

The Gardner lab has studied ruthenium coordination complexes for their potential use in tandem solar cells made from strictly molecular materials. Ruthenium complexes are well known for their photostability and tunable redox chemistry and comparatively long-lived excited states.  

 Publications

In the News

Moisture tolerant perovskite solar cells: link

James was awarded the element Tantalum from IUPAC for the Periodic Table of Younger Chemists: link

KTH News:

1) Meeting with KTH's Energy Platform

2) Possible solution to flaw in promising solar material

3) Solar cell performance improves with ion-conducting polymer


Courses

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (CK2020), examiner, course responsible | Course web

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (FCK3319), examiner, course responsible, teacher | Course web

Analytical Chemistry (CK1290), teacher | Course web

Analytical Chemistry with Statistics (CK1295), teacher | Course web

Batteries (CK2300), teacher | Course web

Batteries (CK206V), teacher | Course web

Chemical Equilibrium (CK1285), examiner, course responsible, teacher | Course web

Chemical Equilibrium (CK1280), examiner, course responsible, teacher | Course web

Degree Project in Chemical Engineering and Technology, First Cycle (KH138X), examiner | Course web

Degree Project in Chemistry, Second Cycle (KD200X), examiner | Course web

Degree Project in Engineering Chemistry, First Cycle (KA103X), assistant | Course web

Introductory Chemistry (KD1020), teacher | Course web

Materials Chemistry and Properties (KF1165), teacher | Course web

Project in Chemistry (KD2905), examiner | Course web

Project in Chemistry (KD2910), examiner | Course web

Project in Chemistry (KD2920), examiner | Course web