Hualin Zhan

Research Fellow

Picture of Hualin Zhan

Location
Engineering Building (32), E228

Email
u1107871@anu.edu.au

Clusters
Energy

Interests

Machine Learning for Science, Solar Energy Materials, Energy Storage Materials, and Theoretical Physics (ion & electron transport by mathematical physics, finite-element simulation, DFT, etc)

Research

Quantitatively unravelling the intricate physics of photovoltaic and energy storage devices at the ion and electron level is essential to transcend the trial-and-error research methods, unlocking a future of precision-driven technological breakthroughs. Machine learning opens thrilling new pathways for quantitative analysis, yet its frequent lack of physical integration poses a fundamental challenge, limiting its potential to expand our knowledge of complex systems.

Dr Hualin Zhan, a theoretical physicist with expertise in machine learning since 2006, seamlessly integrates physics and machine learning to uncover new physical phenomena and revolutionize experimental analysis methods, advancing transformative research in solar energy and energy storage. His research in theoretical physics, energy materials, and machine learning (as shown below) forms the cornerstone of the nexSAS group at the ANU, driving the quest to accelerate the discovery of next-generation solar and energy storage materials.

Group website: https://www.nexsas.org

Selected Publications by 2024 (physics-machine learning nexus for energy applications)\

• Solar Energy Materials and Machine Learning:

  1. Zhan, H., Ahmad, V., Mayon, A., et al (2024). Physics-based extraction of material parameters from perovskite experiments via Bayesian optimization. Energy & Environmental Science 17, 4735-4745.

  2. Tabi, G. D., Pham, H. T., Zhan, H., et al (2022). LiI doping of mixed-cation mixed-halide perovskite solar cells: Defect passivation, controlled crystallization and transient ionic response. Materials Today Physics 27, 100822.

    • Energy Storage Materials:

  3. Xiao, J., Zhan, H., Wang, X., et al [(Equal Contribution) 2020]. Electrolyte gating in graphene-based supercapacitors and its use for probing nanoconfined charging dynamics. *Nature Nanotechnology (Featured Article) 15, 683-689.

  4. Zhan, H., Xiong, Z., Cheng, C., et al (2020). Solvation-involved nanoionics: new opportunities from 2D nanomaterial laminar membranes. Advanced Materials 32, 1904562.\

    • Theoretical Physics (Ion Transport) and Machine Learning:

  5. Zhan, H., Sandberg, R., Feng, F., et al (2023). Physics-Based Machine Learning Discovered Nanocircuitry for Nonlinear Ion Transport in Nanoporous Electrodes. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (Cover Article) 127, 13699-13705.
  6. Zhan, H., Cervenka, J., Prawer, S. & Garrett, D. J. (2017). Electrical double layer at various electrode potentials: a modification by vibration. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 121, 4760-4764.

Biography

Dr Hualin Zhan is leading the physics-machine learning nexus team within the ANU Perovskite Photovoltaics group. He received his PhD in physics from the University of Melbourne and he has been an nanomaterials engineer for years. His achievements have been recognized with numerous accolades, including an ACAP Fellowship (Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics). His research strives to innovate energy materials by physics-based machine learning, paving the way for the discovery of potentially disruptive technologies.

Activities & Awards

• 2025: Lead CI of the ACAP project entitled Bayesian Optimization and Large Language Modules: Towards Autonomous, Closed-Loop PV Materials Discovery • 2024: Best Oral Presentation Award from the PVSEC-35 (35th International Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference) • 2023: Member of the Selection Committee for the NCI Australian National AI Flagship Scheme • 2023: ACAP Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency) • 2022: Review Editor for Frontiers in Chemistry • 2015: Queen’s College Graduate Scholarship from the University of Melbourne • 2014: Symposium Award from the EMRS (European Materials Research Society) Spring Meeting • 2013: Melbourne International Research Scholarship • 2013: Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarship • 2013: OzTREKK Scholarship

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