Programme across the three institutions.
This project aims to develop a novel self-powered flexible photodetector based on ZnO/perovskite/ZnO heterojunction bipolar phototransistors (HBPTs). By integrating piezoelectric and pyroelectric effects, the device can operate without an external power source, making it particularly suitable for wearable health monitoring, low-power IoT environmental sensing, and next-generation human-machine interactive interfaces. The research will focus on understanding the coupling mechanism between piezoelectric and pyroelectric polarization, optimizing interface and band structures, and demonstrating a flexible device with significantly improved responsivity and detectivity. This work seeks to provide an energy-efficient and adaptable sensing solution for daily-life applications, promoting the development of sustainable and user-friendly optoelectronic systems.
Joint Supervisory Team:
- XJTLU supervisor: Professor/Dr… Wen Liu
- XJTU supervisor: Professor/Dr……Guohe Zhang
- UoL supervisor: Professor/Dr…Joseph Yan
Requirements:
A UK first-class or upper second-class honours Bachelor's degree and a UK Master's degree with Merit (or their equivalent) are required for PhD admissions. Exceptional candidates holding only a Bachelor's degree may be considered on an individual basis.
Evidence of good spoken and written English is essential. The candidate should have an IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.5 or above, if the first language is not English.
For more information about entry requirements and admission procedures of PhD programme at XJTLU, please visit:
Programme Structure and Fees:
Doctoral students in the joint programme are registered with both XJTLU and the UoL. Upon successful completion of the programme, the students will be awarded a PhD degree from University of Liverpool. During their doctoral studies at XJTLU, students are expected to conduct research at XJTU as visiting students. Additionally, students have the opportunity to apply for a short-term research visit to the UoL if the project requires it.
The joint doctoral programme is offered on a full-time basis, with a typical duration of three to four years. The tuition fee is RMB 99,000 per year.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants are advised to email zhangguohe@xjtu.edu.cn or wen.liu@xjtlu.edu.cn the following documents for initial review and assessment (Please include the project title in the subject line):
- CV
- Two formal reference letters
- Personal statement outlining your interest in the position
- Certificates of English language qualifications (IELTS or equivalent)
- Full academic transcripts in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
- Verified certificates of education qualifications in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
- PDF copy of Master Degree dissertation (or an equivalent writing sample) and examiners reports available
Where will I study?
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) is an international joint-venture university founded by Xi’an Jiaotong University in China and the University of Liverpool in the UK, which captures the essence of both parent universities, offering students the opportunity to obtain globally recognised UK degree and a unique life experience within China.
Project supervisors
Dr. Wen Liu
Career overview
Wen Liu is a Senior Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China. They obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Peking University, Beijing, China, in 2004, and a PhD from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in 2008. Currently, they serve as Chair of the IEEE CASS-EDS Joint Chapter Suzhou, Deputy Director of the Youth Innovation Promotion Committee of the Third Generation Semiconductor Industry Technology Innovation Strategy Alliance (CASA) in China, and Executive Director of the XJTLU Advanced Semiconductor Research Center. They are also a Fellow of The Higher Education Academy in the UK and a Senior Member of IEEE. To date, they have supervised 9 PhD students and over 20 Master students to completion. Their current research interests include GaN power devices and their circuit integration. They have published over 50 journal papers, more than 60 conference papers, and have applied for over 20 patents, with 13 of them being authorised. In the last five years, they have been granted various levels of funding exceeding 8 million RMB, including the NSFC General Programme (2023-2027) and the National Key R&D Programme from the Ministry of Science and Technology (2022-2025).
Research interests
Wen Liu's research interests include wide bandgap semiconductor devices and their integrated circuits. They focus on physics-driven and AI-enhanced methods for the design of GaN-based devices and integrated circuits, high-performance GaN power devices and integrated circuits, all GaN DC-DC converters for radiation resistance, and GaN optoelectronic integration.
