Sunlight is the primary energy source for all life on Earth, yet modern society remains dependent on fossil fuels. The climate crisis necessitates a shift to solar power, which requires a deep understanding of how light can be transformed into electricity, fuels, chemicals, materials, and heat.

However, studies on how light affects matter at the atomic level are scarce. This project aims to fill this gap by investigating how atoms rearrange when exposed to light and how these changes influence the material's ability to produce energy.

The arrival of our new transmission electron microscope (TEM) introduces advanced in situ capabilities through the incoupling of light, combining nanophotonics and plasmonics with atomic-scale 3D imaging. With the electron beam blanker and the ASI Cheetah T3 detector, the TEM can achieve ultrafast time resolution of up to 640 million frames per second.

While this infrastructure propels the Netherlands to the forefront of the field, technical challenges such as synchronizing laser and electron pulses remain. A dedicated postdoc will collaborate with private partners to address these challenges. The project focuses on two key scientific questions: 1) How do gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) reshape under light, which could enhance their catalytic properties? 2) How do mixed perovskite films demix under light, affecting photovoltaic efficiency? Understanding these mechanisms will improve photocatalysts and solar cell materials.