Dr Thom Harris-Lee

I completed my PhD at the University of Bath and Monash University where I studied the systematic development and characterisation of photoelectrodes for light-driven water splitting. I then joined the Cambridge Centre for Gallium Nitride in 2024 to work on the MOVPE growth, and subsequent electrochemical porosification, of gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminium gallium nitride (AlGaN).

Porous (Al)GaN has emerged as a promising material for enhancing the performance of optoelectronic devices and expanding the application space of III-nitride material systems. However, the electrochemical etching (ECE) process used to create nanoporous structures remains poorly understood, limiting control over pore formation and morphology. My research focuses on improving the understanding of the fundamental electrochemistry governing pore formation to enable the rational design of new and bespoke porous architectures, tailored to specific applications. I also work on the integration of porous (Al)GaN into next-generation devices, and explore its potential in high surface area applications, including sensing, catalysis, and energy technologies.