Teng Lu

Dr. Teng Lu is an ARC DECRA Fellow at the Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University (ANU), where he conducts research on polar functional materials for energy applications. He obtained his Bachelor (Hons) and PhD from the same institution (2013-2018) and has continued as a research fellow.

Education:

• PhD, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University (2018)
• Bachelor (Hons), Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University (2013-2018)

Dr. Lu's research focuses on the development and characterization of smart materials that respond to external stimuli (light, electric fields, mechanical strain). His work spans from nanometre to millimetre scales and involves structural analysis using advanced techniques (neutron, X-ray, electron diffraction) and material synthesis (thin-film growth, solid-state reactions). Key areas include ferroelectric photovoltaics, energy storage materials, and photocatalysis for CO2 reduction.

His recent publications (2025) highlight advancements in ferroelectric ceramics for photovoltaics, defect engineering in photocatalysts, and novel synthesis methods for energy conversion. The research demonstrates a strong trend towards multifunctional materials that integrate optical, electrical, and mechanical properties for sustainable energy solutions.

Scientific Awards:

• ARC DECRA (2024)
• ANBUG Young Scientist Award (2022)
• AINSE Early Career Researcher Grant (2021)
• AONSA Young Research Fellowship (2020)
• Director's Prize for the Best PhD Thesis, ANU (2018)

Dr. Lu is actively involved in research supervision and securing competitive grants. He is the Principal Investigator (PI) for three active projects: Thermophysical Property Analysers for Materials under Extreme Environments, Chemical and structural design for high power energy storage materials, and Locally structured polar-photofunctional materials for energy conversion. Additionally, he is a Co-Investigator on two collaborative projects, including a cryogenic characterization facility and a near-infrared imaging project.

He leads a research group with close collaboration with Prof. Yun Liu and utilizes advanced facilities for material characterization at multiple scales.