Energy Challenges from a Materials Perspective by Professor Federico Rosei

Tan Chin Tuan Exchange Fellowship Lecture Hosted by Professor Lam Yeng Ming

Abstract

The quest for sustainable development dictates an urgent transition from fossil fuels to renewables. This presentation focuses on next generation (solar) energy technologies from a materials perspective. We study structure property/relationships in advanced materials, emphasizing multifunctional systems that exhibit several functionalities. Such systems are then used as building blocks for the fabrication of various emerging technologies. In particular, nanostructured materials synthesized via the bottom–up approach present an opportunity for future generation low cost and low energy intensive manufacturing of devices. We focus on recent developments in solar technologies, including third generation photovoltaics, solar hydrogen production, luminescent solar concentrators and other optoelectronic devices, highlighting the role and importance of critical raw materials.

Biography

Professor Federico Rosei 
Professor, Chair of Industrial Chemistry, University of Trieste

Federico Rosei O.C., C.Q. (MSc (1996) and PhD (2001) from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”) holds the Chair of Industrial Chemistry at the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste since March 2023. Previously he was Full Professor at the Centre Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Varennes (QC) Canada, where he served as Director. He held the Canada Research Chair (Junior) in Nanostructured Organic and Inorganic Materials (2003–2013) and the Canada Research Chair (Senior) in Nanostructured Materials (2016–2023) and UNESCO Chair in Materials and Technologies for Energy Conversion, Saving and Storage (2013–2023). Dr. Rosei’s research interests focus on structure/property relationships in nanomaterials and their use as building blocks in emerging technologies. He has published over 545 articles in prestigious international journals with over 32,500 citations (H-index 93). Dr Rosei is a Fellow of numerous prestigious academies and scientific societies worldwide, including the Royal Society of Canada, Academia Europaea, TWAS, the American Physical Society, AAAS, and the Royal Society of Chemistry. His exceptional contributions to science, innovation, and mentorship have been recognized with many distinguished honours, including the Officer of the Order of Canada (2025), Knight of the National Order of Quebec (2023), a Guggenheim Fellowship in Engineering (2023), the Blaise Pascal Medal of the European Academy of Sciences (2019), the Brockhouse Medal of the Canadian Association of Physics (2022), and the Royal Society of Chemistry Centenary Prize (2026).