Rachel Evans

Rachel Evans is a Professor of Materials Chemistry at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy. She leads the Photoactive Materials Group, focusing on designing functional soft materials that interact with light.

• Education: MChem (University of Wales Swansea), PhD (University of Wales Swansea)
• Research Interests: Materials Chemistry, Photoactive Materials, Solar Energy, Light-Responsive Systems
• Key Projects: Spectral converters for solar cells, stimuli-responsive materials, polymer membranes for water purification, and optical components for visible-light communication

Her group employs spectroscopy, scattering, and microscopy to analyze structure-property relationships in photoactive systems. Recent work emphasizes 3D-printed luminescent solar concentrators, light-driven phase switching, and computer vision techniques for emulsion analysis. She is deeply involved in interdisciplinary collaborations connecting chemistry, physics, and engineering.