Filip Podjaski

Dr. Filip Podjaski serves as a UKRI Research Fellow (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow) in the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London's Faculty of Natural Sciences, where he leads research on light-driven and ionic processes in organic semiconductors for next-generation photobattery technologies and solar hydrogen production. Based at the Molecular Sciences Research Hub on White City Campus, he employs time-resolved optical spectroscopy to investigate charge storage mechanisms in novel materials, with a focus on environmental adaptation for renewable energy infrastructure.

Podjaski's academic foundation spans multiple institutions: he completed undergraduate physics studies at the University of Göttingen (Germany) and University of Lyon (France), followed by a joint PhD program between École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Max-Planck Institute for Solid State Research (MPI-FKF). His interdisciplinary background bridges physics, chemistry, and materials science to address energy conversion challenges.

His research centers on photocharging materials that intrinsically combine solar cell and battery functions, enabling electricity supply on demand. Key focus areas include:

• Photocatalytic hydrogen production using carbon nitride-based materials
• Development of photo-rechargeable batteries for dark-energy applications
• Strain-engineered electrocatalysts for enhanced hydrogen evolution
• Light-driven microswimmers for biomedical drug delivery

These investigations reveal fundamental photo-ionic mechanisms while targeting practical implementations in energy storage and medical technology.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2022-2025) shows consistent focus on carbon nitride materials (38% of works), electrocatalyst degradation (27%), and photocharging mechanisms (20%), with increasing emphasis on operando characterization techniques and environmental adaptation. His work bridges fundamental photophysics with industrial applications in renewable energy conversion and storage.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (Horizon Europe)
• Materials Horizons Emerging Investigator designation
• Organization of the inaugural International Symposium on Photocharging Materials (2024)

Podjaski leads collaborative research projects including the med-tech initiative Endosurge through the Max-Planck Innovation incubator Max!mize. His current UKRI fellowship funds fundamental studies on ionic-organic semiconductor interfaces, while external collaborations extend his strain-engineering research for hydrogen evolution catalysis. He has secured patent protection for photo-memristive sensing and solar battery concepts.

As principal investigator of the Photocharging Research Group within the Durrant Group ecosystem, he directs experimental efforts in time-resolved spectroscopy and materials characterization. His team maintains active partnerships with the Max-Planck Institute for Solid State Research and leverages Imperial's White City Campus facilities for nanomaterial synthesis and device testing, with particular emphasis on biological and ionic environment compatibility.