Professor Asif Tahir

The development of renewable, low cost energy technologies is a key scientific challenge for the 21st century, and my research focuses on the development of new chemical approaches to solar energy conversion: harnessing solar energy either to produce electricity (photovoltaics), molecular fuels (e.g., hydrogen) or photocatalysis.

Our fundamental studies of new materials and device concepts aim to elucidate design principles and so enable technological development. This work's key objective is to study light-induced water oxidation and reduction reactions, and production of H2 on novel nanostructured semiconductor electrode surfaces, as a renewable source of energy. I am currently investigating photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performance of metal oxide, oxynitride and nitride photoelectrodes for solar hydrogen generation, and the effects of doping agents and preparation techniques on their properties.

In addition, the photo-degradation of toxic industrial wastes and pollutants is also being investigated for a clean and sustainable environment.

Accepting PhDs

I am currently accepting PhDs in Engineering / Renewable Energy. Please get in touch by email  if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.

Research Collaboration

• Michael Graetzel Group - Institute of Chemical Sciences - EPFL, Switzerland
• Mohd Asri Group - Solar Energy Institute - National University of Malaysia, Malaysia
• Smagul Karazhanov Group - IFE-Institute for Energiteknikk, Oslo Norway
• Alessandro Troisi Group - Department of Chemistry - University of Warwick, UK
• Khurshid Ayub Group - Department of Chemistry - COMSATS Abbottabad, Pakistan
• Salma Bilal Group - National Centre of Excellence in Physical Chemistry, University of Peshawar, Pakistan
• Anwar-ul-Haq Ali Shah Group - Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Pakistan