Cheuk Wai Tai

Cheuk Wai Tai is a Senior Staff Researcher at Stockholm University's Department of Environmental and Materials Chemistry since 2009. He manages the transmission electron microscopes and sample preparation equipment at the Electron Microscopy Center and serves as Section Editor for the Journal of Electronic Materials. His work focuses on quantitative structure characterization in functional materials research, particularly within nanoscience and nanotechnology contexts.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2004
• M.Phil. in Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2001
• M.Sc. in Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998
• B.Sc. (Hons) in Engineering Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 1997
• Dip. in Mechanical Engineering (Computer Aided Engineering), Institute of Vocational Education (formerly Haking Wong Technical Institute), Hong Kong, 1992

His research centers on structure-property relationships in functional materials through advanced electron microscopy techniques. Current specializations include Pair Distribution Function (ePDF) & Diffuse Scattering, Energy Materials characterization, and EM sample preparation methodology development. The group maintains strong focus on translating structural data into functional performance metrics for nanomaterials.

Recent publications (2013-2019) demonstrate consistent emphasis on electron microscopy applications for energy storage materials (batteries, photocatalysts) and functional ceramics. Key trends include structural disorder analysis in piezoelectrics, development of quantitative TEM methods like SUePDF, and nanoscale characterization of electrocatalyst surface phases. His work bridges materials chemistry with advanced imaging techniques.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Fellow of The Royal Microscopical Society (U.K.)
• Senior Member of IEEE
• Marie Curie Fellowship (2007-2009) from European Commission
• Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowship (2003/2004) from Hong Kong S.A.R. Government

He teaches Solid State Chemistry (KZ7003) and leads Introduction to Analytical Electron Microscopy (KZ8009), having previously taught Advanced Transmission Electron Microscopy (KZ8010) before 2011. Major grants supporting his work include:

• "Quantitative structural characterisation using 3D electron-based pair distribution function" (Swedish Research Council)
• "A Multidimensional Toolkit for Modern Electron Microscopy" (Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research)
• "Mitigating Ni-rich Li-ion cathode side-reactions" (Swedish Energy Agency, Co-applicant)

He leads the Cheuk-Wai Tai group within Stockholm University's chemistry department and oversees operations at the Electron Microscopy Center, where his team develops and applies advanced characterization techniques for functional materials research.