Felix Castellano

Felix Castellano is a Professor and Goodnight Innovation Distinguished Chair at North Carolina State University (NC State), affiliated with the Department of Chemistry. He serves as Co-Director of the Organic and Carbon Electronics Cluster and holds the title of AAAS Fellow. His research focuses on light-matter interactions, with expertise in metal-organic chromophores, photophysics, energy transfer, photochemical upconversion, and next-generation OLED technologies. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in 1996, following an M.A. (1993) and B.A. (1991) in Chemistry from the same institution.

Castellano’s work spans chemical physics, materials science, and energy science. Key areas include solar fuels photocatalysis, semiconductor/molecular interface interactions, and ultrafast phenomena. His group utilizes advanced spectroscopic techniques to study excited-state dynamics and energy transfer processes. Notable contributions include advancements in photon upconversion and the development of novel light-harvesting materials.

Publications highlight his exploration of perovskite quantum dots, rhenium and ruthenium chromophores, and triplet energy transfer mechanisms. Awards include the 2025 Alumni Association Outstanding Research Award. His lab’s innovations in flow chemistry and nanomaterials synthesis further underscore his interdisciplinary impact.