麻豆传媒

Libby is a Professor of Energy Materials at 麻豆传媒. Research in the Energy Materials group focuses on developing materials and devices for sustainable power, fuel and feedstocks. This includes solar cell and solar fuel devices that function at a molecular level and challenge the conventional solid-state photovoltaic technologies. It also involves extracting value from waste. Her team's research involves materials development, device assembly and characterization of the underpinning photophysics and electrochemistry. Her current roles include being the co lead for , academic lead for the , the EPSRC Northeast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy & Microscopy Facility, Institution Director of the , CoI for the and she is the engagement lead for the and the Light Harvesting theme lead for the . She is co-Director for Post-Graduate Research in the School of Natural and Environmental Science.

Libby took up a lectureship at 麻豆传媒 in September 2014 and was promoted to Reader in 2018 and Professor in 2022. Her roles have included the founding co-Director of the Centre for Energy at 麻豆传媒 and Director of the £30M 麻豆传媒 Academic Track (NUAcT) Fellowship scheme. Previously, she was awarded a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellowship and a University of Nottingham Anne McLaren Research Fellowship 2010, having spent 3 years as a post-doc at the Centre for Molecular Devices, Uppsala University, Sweden, developing dye-sensitized solar cells. She completed her PhD in 2007 at the University of York, supervised by Prof Robin Perutz FRS and Prof Anne-Kathrin Duhme-Klair.

ORCID 0000-0002-6032-343X

ResearcherID G-8699-2014

If you are looking for a PhD studentship in any of the following areas, please check up to date information on funding available by visiting the following page before emailing: /postgraduate/fees-funding/search-funding/

If you are an undergraduate student looking for a summer research internship, please get in touch. Funding calls are usually announced early in the calendar year, for example:

https://www.rsc.org/membership-and-community/connect-with-others/join-scientific-networks/subject-communities/analytical-science-community/funding-for-the-analytical-science-community/summer-studentships/

https://www.rsc.org/prizes-funding/funding/find-funding/undergraduate-research-bursaries/

Expertise and facilities available in the Energy Materials Laboratory:

/sage/facilities/analytical-services/transient-absorption-spectroscopy/

A suite of spectroscopic characterisation for in situ and operando characterisation of samples including liquids and solids (UV-Vis-NIR, photoluminescence (including lifetimes), FT-IR (including ATR and time-resolved); thermal analysis (TGA/DSC), Gas Chromatography, Ion Chromatography, Electrochemistry and Spectroelectrochemistry. Flagship facility is a fs time resolved laser facility including transient absorption spectroscopy and microscopy.

Materials synthesis and characterisation, ranging from PV materials, metal oxide electrodes, semiconductor quantum dots and photoluminescent carbon dots, catalysts (including water splitting, CO2 reduction etc.), dyes and photoactive materials, coordination complexes. Facilities for inert atmosphere synthesis/handling of materials, furnaces and hot plates (including inert atmosphere), ball milling, conductivity measurement.

Device development (gas diffusion cells for electrochemical CO2 reduction, H-cells for photoelectrochemistry, photocatalysis reactors, all with flow to allow for inline product analysis; printable photovoltaics) with facilities for 1 cm to 10 x 10 cm devices including inert atmosphere glove boxes with integrated spin coaters, screen printing, slot die coating, spray pyrolysis (automated), laminator for encapsulation.

Device testing: Solar Simulators and Spectral Response (EQE/IQE with integrating sphere), outdoor testing facility for PV on campus (lab scale) and RAF Leeming (lab to mini-module scale currently), charge carrier density, lifetime and transport time analysis (mechanistic studies from fs to seconds).

Our ERC-funded project focuses on dye-sensitized photocathodes which offer new opportunities for converting sunlight into storable energy cheaply and sustainably. We are developing dye-sensitized photocathodes for use in tandem dye-sensitized solar cells and for the photo-reduction of carbon dioxide or water to high energy products (solar fuels). Despite the infancy and complexity of this research area, we have brought about a number of exciting developments which have improved our understanding of the system and allowed us to substantially improve the photoconversion efficiency. Addressing the main limitations to p-type dye-sensitized solar cells, by improving the quality of the NiO electrodes, substituting the conventional triiodide/iodide electrolyte for more suitable alternatives and engineering new dyes specifically for the p-type system, has enabled us to substantially increase the efficiency of the device. We are now developing this idea further by replacing NiO with alternative transparent p-type materials and using the lessons we have learnt from solar cells to address the issue of solar fuel production. Here, the kinetic balance is even more critical and so we are simultaneously developing new methods to monitor the charge-transfer rates under conditions which are as close as possible to working devices.

Find out more here:

Solar Cells: 

Sustainability:

Our UKRI-funded project within the National Interdisciplinary Centre for the Circular Chemical Economy (CircularChem) brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, government, NGOs and general public to transform the UK’s chemical industry into a fossil-independent, climate-positive and environmentally-friendly circular economy.  

Our Defence Innovation Funded project within the ViTAL Living Lab at RAF Leeming is looking at prospects for next generation solar technology to meet the MOD's commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. 

/press/articles/latest/2021/11/vitallivinglab/ 

Current Courses:

Stage 1: General Chemistry

Stage 4: Energy Materials, Research Project

Research Publicity and Outreach

In addition to academic achievements I feel it is important to publicise my solar energy research to the public through a variety of activities. Recently I was filmed being interviewed in my laboratory as part of the Royal Society 350 Years of Scientific Publishing, “Science Stories”, which will be promoted in March 2015. I have completed a course in Public Engagement from the Royal Society in October 2014. My group and I take part in regular science fairs including the RSC Big Bang and the Royal Society Summer Exhibition. I lead workshops with local primary and secondary schools and science learning centres and was the Guest Speaker at the Year 12 Higher Education evening, Loughborough High School, (04/ 2011 and 04/2012) to promote STEM subjects to female school leavers. I was Science Week Guest Speaker, Bournemouth Natural Science Society, (03/2012), Guest Expert, University Radio Nottingham Science Show, (02/2012), Guest Speaker, ‘Celebrating Women in STEM' Nottingham University (01/2012) and a Campaign Showcase, ‘Impact: The Nottingham Campaign’ launch day (10/2011).

• Articles

  • McCarthy K, Gonzalez-Gomez R, Woodford O, Gibson EA, Cucinotta F, Farras P. . ACS Omega 2026, 11(15), 22533-22538.
  • Rishan M, Punathil P, Burns C, Arca E, do Nascimento J, Lazarov VK, Zoppi G, Hayes M, Gibson EA, Kalathil S. . Materials Horizons 2026, Epub ahead of print.
  • Neild A, Woodford O, Docampo P, Gibson EA. . RSC Advances 2026, 16(13), 11988-11997.
  • Iglesias Porras S, Neild A, Stevens L, Li W, Snape C, Woodford O, Straughan N, Gibson EA. . ACS Sustainable Resource Management 2025, 2(2), 322-333.
  • Porras SI, Neild A, Gausden J, Barraclough M, Gibson EA. . EES Solar 2025, 1(4), 632-644.
  • Keller T, Benesperi I, Thyr J, Edvinsson T, Gibson E, Freitag M. . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2025, 27(30), 16022-16029.
  • Bruce LA, Desmond L, Seddon AA, Bowen L, Mutch GA, Phan AN, Gibson EA. . Journal of Materials Chemistry C 2025, 13(5), 2172-2182.
  • Burns C, Woodford O, Stephens SL, Rishan M, Fuller L, Kalathil S, Gibson EA. . Dalton Transactions 2025, 54(3), 920-933.
  • Ma C, Gibson E, Di Lorenzo M, Degenaar P. . Prosthesis 2025, 7(6), 136.
  • Pinto ASS, Gulpinar N, Liu F, Gibson EA, Fuller L, Souter P. . ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2025, 13(37), 15257-15268.
  • Pinto ASS, Gulpinar N, Liu F, Gibson E, Fuller L, Souter P. . ACS Sustainable Resource Management 2025, 2(5), 733-743.
  • Burns C, Rishan M, Stevens L, Ashcroft E, Fuller L, Gibson E, Kalathil S. . ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2025, 17(46), 63363-63373.
  • Royle M, Chachuat B, Xu B, Gibson EA. . RSC Sustainability 2024, 2(5), 1337-1349.
  • Blakesley, J, et, al. . Journal of Physics: Energy 2024. In Press.
  • Seddon AA, Hill NS, Errington RJ, Docampo P, Gibson EA. . Chemical Communications 2024, 60, 1876-1879.
  • Flint H, Tito HAR, James R, Cucinotta F, Gibson E, Quintana M. . RSC Advances 2024, 14, 9913-9919.
  • Karlsson JKG, Cerpentier FJR, Lalrempuia R, Appleby MV, Shipp JD, Chekulaev D, Woodford O, Weinstein JA, Pryce MT, Gibson EA. . Sustainable Energy & Fuels 2023, 7(14), 3284-3293.
  • James RD, Alqahtani LS, Mallows J, Flint HV, Waddell PH, Woodford OJ, Gibson EA. . Sustainable Energy & Fuels 2023, 6(7), 1494-1501.
  • Alkhudhayr EAA, Sirbu D, Fsadni M, Vella B, Muhammad BT, Waddell PG, Probert MR, Penfold TJ, Hallam T, Gibson EA, Docampo P. . ACS Applied Energy Materials 2023, 6(22), 11573-11582.
  • Kolay A, Maitya D, Flint H, Gibson EA, Deepa M. . Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 2022, 239, 111674.
  • Marri AR, Flint H, Gibson EA, Fielden J. . Dyes and Pigments 2022, 202, 110244.
  • Seddon AA, Karlsson JKG, Gibson EA, O'Reilly L, Kaufmann M, Vos JG, Pryce MT. . Johnson Matthey Technology Review 2022, 66(1), 21-31.
  • Kolay A, Flint H, Gibson EA, Deepa M. . Chemical Engineering Journal 2022, 437(1), 135223.
  • Cerpentier FJR, Karlsson J, Lalrempui R, Brandon MP, Sazanovich IV, Greetham GM, Gibson EA, Pryce MT. . Frontiers in Chemistry 2021, 9, 795877.
  • Benazzi E, Karlsson J, Ben M'Barek Y, Chabera P, Blanchard S, Alves S, Proust A, Pullerits T, Izzet G, Gibson EA. . Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers 2021, 8(6), 1610-1618.
  • Gibson EA. . Nature Catalysis 2021, 4(9), 740-741.
  • Toupalas G, Karlsson J, Black FA, Masip-Sánchez A, López Z, M'Barek YB, Blanchard S, Proust A, Alves S, Chabera P, Clark IP, Pullerits T, Poblet JM, Gibson EA, Izzet G. . Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2020, 60(12), 6518-6525.
  • Potts NTZ, Sloboda T, Wächtler M, Wahyuono RA, D'Annibale V, Dietzek B, Cappel UB, Gibson EA. . The Journal of Chemical Physics 2020, 153, 184704.
  • Gianoudis E, Benazzi E, Copley G, Karlsson JKG, Panagiotakis S, Landrou G, Angaridis P, Nikolaou V, Charalambidis G, Matthaiaki C, Gibson E, Coutsolelos AG. . Inorganic Chemistry 2020, 59(3), 1611-1621.
  • Cuzan-Munteanu O, Sirbu D, Giorgi M, Shova S, Gibson EA, Réglier M, Orio M, Martins L, Benniston AC. . European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2020, 2020(10), 813-822.
  • Cullen AA, Heintz K, O'Reilly L, Long C, Heise A, Murphy R, Karlsson J, Gibson EA, Greetham GM, Towrie T, Pryce MT. . Frontiers in Chemistry 2020, 8, 584060.
  • Zannotti M, Benazzi E, Stevens L, Minicucci M, Bruce L, Snape C, Gibson E, Giovannetti R. . ACS Applied Energy Materials 2019, 2(10), 7345-7353.
  • Reddy Marri A, Black FA, Mallows J, Gibson EA, Fielden J. . Dyes and Pigments 2019, 165, 508-517.
  • Poldme N, O'Reilly L, Fletcher I, Portoles J, Sazanovich IV, Towrie M, Long C, Vos JG, Pryce M, Gibson EA. . Chemical Science 2019, 10(1), 99-112.
  • Gibson E, Mamlouk M, Hunt M, Cherry B. . Network Magazine 2019, (36), 34-35.
  • Benazzi Elisabetta, Mallows John, Summers Gareth, Black Fiona, Gibson Elizabeth. . Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2019, 7(34), 10409-10445.
  • Benazzi E, Summers GH, Black FA, Sazanovich IV, Clark IP, Gibson EA. . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 2019, 377(2152), 20180338.
  • Kolay A, Potts NTZ, Sardar K, Gibson EA, Deepa M. . Sustainable Energy & Fuels 2019, (2), 514-528.
  • Black FA, Jacquart A, Toupalas G, Alves S, Proust A, Clark IP, Gibson EA, Izzet G. . Chemical Science 2018, 9(25), 5578-5584.
  • Mitra T, Moreau F, Nevin A, Perotto C, Summerfield A, Davies E, Gibson E, Easun T, Schroder M. . Chemical Science 2018, 9(31), 6572-6579.
  • Summers GH, Gibson EA. . ChemPhotoChem 2018, 2(6), 498-506.
  • Hierlinger C, Flint HV, Cordes DB, Slawin AMZ, Gibson EA, Jacquemin D, Guerchais V, ZysmanColman E. . Polyhedron 2018, 140, 109-115.
  • Sinopoli AS, Wood CJ, Gibson EA, Elliott PIP. . Dyes and Pigments 2017, 140, 269-277.
  • Sinopoli A, Wood CJ, Gibson EA, Elliott PIP. . Inorganica Chimica Acta 2017, 457, 81-89.
  • Sinopoli A, Black FA, Wood CJ, Gibson EA, Elliott PIP. . Dalton Transactions 2017, 46(5), 1520-1530.
  • Black FA, Clark CA, Summers GH, Clark IP, Towrie M, Penfold T, George MW, Gibson EA. . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2017, 19(11), 7877-7885.
  • ElMoll H, Black FA, Wood CJ, AlYasari A, ReddyMarri A, Sazanovich IV, Gibson EA, Fielden J. . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2017, (19), 18831-18835.
  • D'Amario L, Jiang R, Cappel U, Gibson E, Boschloo G, Rensmo H, Sun L, Hammarström L, Tian H. . ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 2017, 9(39), 33470-33477.
  • Black FA, Wood CJ, Ngwerume S, Summers GS, Clark IP, Towrie M, Camp JE, Gibson EA. . Faraday Discussions 2017, 198, 449-461.
  • Sinopoli A, Wood CJ, Gibson EA, Elliott PIP. . European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2016, (18), 2887-2890.
  • Wood CJ, McGregor CA, Gibson EA. . ChemElectroChem 2016, 3(11), 1827-1836.
  • Summers GH, Lefebvre JF, Black FA, Davies ES, Gibson EA, Pullerits T, Wood C, Zidek K. . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2016, 18(2), 1059-1070.
  • Hao H, Wood CJ, Clark CA, Calladine J, Horvath R, Hanson-Heine M, Sun XZ, Clark IP, Towrie M, George MW, Yang X, Sun L, Gibson EA. . Dalton Transactions 2016, 45(18), 7708-7719.
  • Summers GH, Lowe G, Lefebvre JF, Ngwerume S, Bräutigam M, Dietzek B, Camp JE, Gibson EA. . ChemPhysChem 2016, 18(4), 406-414.
  • Wood CJ, Summers GH, Clark CA, Kaeffer N, Braeutigam M, Carbone LR, DAmario L, Fan K, Farre Y, Narbey S, Oswald F, Stevens LA, Parmenter CDJ, Fay MW, LaTorre A, Snape CE, Dietzek B, Dini D, Hammarström L, Pellegrin Y, Odobel F, Sun L, Artero V, Gibson EA. . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2016, 18(16), 10727-10738.
  • Sirbu D, Turta C, Gibson EA, Benniston AC. . Dalton Transactions 2015, 44(33), 14646-14655.
  • Zannotti M, Wood CJ, Summers GH, Stevens L, Hall MR, Snape CE, Giovannetti R, Gibson EA. . ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2015, 7(44), 24556-24565.
  • Wood CJ, Summers GH, Gibson EA. . Chemical Communications 2015, 51(18), 3915-3918.
  • Sirbu D, Turta C, Benniston AC, Lemmetyinen H, Tkachenko NV, Wood C, Gibson E. . RSC Advances 2014, 4(43), 22733-22742.
  • Wood CJ, Cheng M, Clark CA, Horvath R, Clark IP, Hamilton ML, Towrie M, George MW, Sun L, Yang X, Gibson EA. . The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part C 2014, 118(30), 16536-16546.
  • Lefebvre JF, Sun XZ, Calladine JA, George MW, Gibson EA. . Chemical Communications 2014, 50(40), 5258-5260.
  • Wood CJ, Robson KCD, Elliott PIP, Berlinguette CP, Gibson EA. . RSC Advances 2014, 4(11), 5782-5791.
  • Awais M, Gibson E, Vos JG, Dowling DP, Hagfeldt A, Dini D. . ChemElectroChem 2014, 1(2), 384-391.
  • Welby CE, Gilmartin L, Marriott RR, Zahid A, Rice CR, Gibson EA, Elliott PIP. Luminescent biscyclometalated arylpyridine iridium(III) complexes with 4,4 '-bi-1,2,3-triazolyl ancillary ligands. DALTON TRANSACTIONS 2013, 42(37), 13527-13536.
  • Gibson EA, Awais M, Dini D, Dowling DP, Pryce MT, Vos JG, Boschloo G, Hagfeldt A. Dye sensitised solar cells with nickel oxide photocathodes prepared via scalable microwave sintering. PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS 2013, 15(7), 2411-2420.
  • Welby CE, Grkinic S, Zahid A, Uppal BS, Gibson EA, Rice CR, Elliott PIP. Synthesis, characterisation and theoretical study of ruthenium 4,4 '-bi-1,2,3-triazolyl complexes: fundamental switching of the nature of S-1 and T-1 states from MLCT to MC. DALTON TRANSACTIONS 2012, 41(25), 7637-7646. In Preparation.
  • Gibson EA, LePleux L, Fortage J, Pellegrin Y, Blart E, Odobel F, Hagfeldt A, Boschloo G. Role of the Triiodide/Iodide Redox Couple in Dye Regeneration in p-Type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. LANGMUIR 2012, 28(15), 6485-6493.
  • Windle CD, Campian MV, Duhme-Klair AK, Gibson EA, Perutz RN, Schneider J. CO2 photoreduction with long-wavelength light: dyads and monomers of zinc porphyrin and rhenium bipyridine. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS 2012, 48(66), 8189-8191.
  • LePleux L, Smeigh AL, Gibson E, Pellegrin Y, Blart E, Boschloo G, Hagfeldt A, Hammarstrom L, Odobel F. Synthesis, photophysical and photovoltaic investigations of acceptor-functionalized perylene monoimide dyes for nickel oxide p-type dye-sensitized solar cells. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2011, 4(6), 2075-2084.
  • Boschloo G, Gibson EA, Hagfeldt A. Photomodulated Voltammetry of Iodide/Triiodide Redox Electrolytes and Its Relevance to Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2011, 2(24), 3016-3020. In Preparation.
  • Gibson EA, Smeigh AL, LePleux L, Hammarstrom L, Odobel F, Boschloo G, Hagfeldt A. Cobalt Polypyridyl-Based Electrolytes for p-Type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C 2011, 115(19), 9772-9779.
  • Qin P, Wiberg J, Gibson EA, Linder M, Li L, Brinck T, Hagfeldt A, Albinsson B, Sun LC. Synthesis and Mechanistic Studies of Organic Chromophores with Different Energy Levels for p-Type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C 2010, 114(10), 4738-4748.
  • Li L, Gibson EA, Qin P, Boschloo G, Gorlov M, Hagfeldt A, Sun LC. Double-Layered NiO Photocathodes for p-Type DSSCs with Record IPCE. ADVANCED MATERIALS 2010, 22(15), 1759.
  • Feldt SM, Gibson EA, Gabrielsson E, Sun L, Boschloo G, Hagfeldt A. Design of Organic Dyes and Cobalt Polypyridine Redox Mediators for High-Efficiency Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2010, 132(46), 16714-16724.
  • Gibson EA, Duhme-Klair AK, Perutz RN. Design and synthesis of water soluble (metallo)porphyrins with pendant arms: studies of binding to xanthine oxidase. NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY 2010, 34(6), 1125-1134.
  • Cappel UB, Gibson EA, Hagfeldt A, Boschloo G. Dye Regeneration by Spiro-MeOTAD in Solid State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Studied by Photoinduced Absorption Spectroscopy and Spectroelectrochemistry. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C 2009, 113(15), 6275-6281.
  • Gibson EA, Smeigh AL, LePleux L, Fortage J, Boschloo G, Blart E, Pellegrin Y, Odobel F, Hagfeldt A, Hammarstrom L. A p-Type NiO-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell with an Open-Circuit Voltage of 0.35 V. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION 2009, 48(24), 4402-4405.

• Notes

  • Royle M, Gibson EA. . Chem 2023, 9(3), 543-546.
  • Summers GH, Lefebvre JF, Black FA, Davies ES, Gibson EA, Pullerits T, Wood CJ, Zidek K. . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2016, 18(4), 3358-3358.

• Report

  • Fsadni M, Gibson E, O'Brien S, Royle M. . UKRI Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Chemical Economy, 2025.

• Reviews

  • Cariño C, Proust A, Guillemot G, Bidi L, Blanchard S, Gibson EA, Izzet G. . Chemical Science 2025, 16(42), 19493-19518.
  • Burns C, Gibson E, Fuller L, Kalathil S. . Artificial Photosynthesis 2025, 1(1), 27-49.
  • Munoz-Garcia A, Benesperi I, Boschloo G, Concepcion J, Delcamp J, Gibson E, Meyer G, Pavone M, Pettersson H, Hagfeldt A, Freitag M. . Chemical Society Reviews 2021, 50(22), 12450-12550.
  • Gibson EA. . Chemical Society Review 2017, 46(20), 6194-6209.
  • Dini D, Halpin Y, Vos JG, Gibson EA. . Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2015, 304-305, 179-201.
  • Odobel F, Pellegrin Y, Gibson EA, Hagfeldt A, Smeigh AL, Hammarstrom L. Recent advances and future directions to optimize the performances of p-type dye-sensitized solar cells. COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS 2012, 256(21-22), 2414-2423.