Hugh W. Hillhouse

Education

• Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, 2000
• M.S. Physics, University of Massachusetts, 2000
• M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 1996
• B.S. Chemical Engineering, Clemson University, 1995

Previous appointments

• Visiting Scholar (Sabbatical), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2008-2009
• Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, 2007-2010
• Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, 2002-2007
• NSF International Postdoctoral Fellow, Nanoscopic Physics, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, 2000-2002

Research Statement

Hillhouse’s research lies at the nexus of nanomaterials and energy conversion. Within the realm of molecular and nanoscale science many new molecules, nanocrystals, electronic materials, and device architectures can be envisioned that may be able to address our current energy harvesting, utilization, and storage challenges. However, the scientific understanding of the chemistry and fundamental processes involved and the engineering necessary to develop economic and sustainable solutions is still in its infancy. Research efforts within the group span the range from fundamental studies of molecular precursor chemistry, nanocrystal nucleation and growth, and materials defect chemistry to device fabrication, characterization, and modeling of solar cells and fuel cells to system-level analyses of the life-cycle and impact of potential new technologies. This system-level approach is used to identify opportunities, avoid unforeseen consequences (like indirect market effects and environmental issues), and enlighten the molecular and nanoscale approaches we develop. Please see the Hillhouse Research Group Website to learn more.

Opportunities for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postdoctoral Researchers

The Hillhouse Group typically has openings for undergraduate researchers, graduate students seeking a PhD or MS, and postdoctoral researchers. Please see the Group's website for more information and a list of openings.

Teaching

Hillhouse has developed and taught graduate courses on: (1) Advanced Solar Energy Conversion, (2) Electrochemistry, (3) X-ray and Neutron Scattering Methods, (4) Nanomaterials Chemistry and Engineering, and (5) Transport Phenomena. He has also developed an undergraduate course on the Principles of Molecular Engineering which is offered every year. He has been recognized for his teaching and received the Shreve Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching from Purdue University.

Select publications

1. Physiochemical Machine Learning Models Predict Operational Lifetimes of CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells, J. Mater. Chem. A 2024. Read publication
2. Water-Accelerated Photooxidation of CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022. Read publication
3. Oxidant Scavenging Properties of Urea Enable Selective Oxidation of Pharmaceuticals and Suppression of Oxyhalide Formation during Electrolysis of Fresh Human Urine, Water Research 2021. Read publication
4. Hybrid Perovskite Films Approaching the Radiative Limit with over 90% Internal Photoluminescence Quantum Efficiency, Nature Photonics 2018. Read publication
5. Correlation between Photoluminescence and Carrier Transport and a Simple in-situ Passivation Method for High-Bandgap Hybrid Perovskites, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2017. Read publication
6. Germanium Alloyed Kesterite Solar Cells with Low Voltage Deficits, Chemistry of Materials 2016. Read publication
7. Lithium-doping inverts the nanoscale electric field at the grain boundaries in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 and increases photovoltaic efficiency, Physical Chemistry & Chemical Physics 2015. Read publication
8. Quasi-Fermi level splitting and Sub-bandgap Absorptivity from Semiconductor Photoluminescence, J. Applied Physics. 2014. Read publication
9. Earth Abundant Element Photovoltaics Directly from Soluble Precursors using a Non-Toxic Solvent, Advanced Energy Materials 2011. Read publication.
10. Development of CuInSe2 Nanocrystal and Nanoring Inks for Low-Cost Solar Cells, Nano Letters 2008. Read publication
11. General Method for Simulation of 2D GISAXS Intensities for Any Nanostructured Film Using Discrete Fourier Transforms, J. Phys. Chem. C 2007. Read publication
12. Nanofabrication of Double Gyroid Films, Chem. Mater. 2007. Read publication
13. Modeling the Thermoelectric Transport Properties of Nanowires Embedded in Oriented Microporous and Mesoporous Films, Micro. Meso. Mater. 2001. Read publication
14. Synthesis and Characterization of Ordered Arrays of Topological Defects in Mesoporous Silica Films, Chemistry of Materials 2000. Read publication

Honors & awards

• Outstanding Young Alumni Award (Clemson University College of Engineering), 2011
• STAR Professor, State of Washington, 2010
• University Faculty Scholar Award, Purdue, 2009
• Shreve Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching from Purdue, 2009
• National Academy of Engineering, Frontiers of Engineering Program, 2007
• NSF CAREER Award, 2002

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