Researcher Highlight – Minuk Choi from Project E
This is the third interview of the Researcher Highlight Series. This time we would like to introduce the first PhD student from our partner institute Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan (NITech): Minuk Choi. He is collaborating with Project E – Lead-Free Perovskite Semiconductors with Tunable Bandgap for Energy Conversion
Where do you come from and how did you become a part of the IRTG program?
I come from Busan which is a city in the south region of Korea. I got to know about this project when I was in the second year of my master degree. Prof. Dr. Hayakawa, who is my supervisor, suggested to join this program if I want to continue my research in a doctoral course.
Why did you decide to continue your research after your Master thesis?
Recently, Material science has made great progress and will bring more changes to our life in the future. I have the feeling that it is both, fascinating and challenging, to do research in this field. Also, in the doctoral course, students will have more chances to get international communication possibilities like in the IRTG project. I think it is a great chance to broaden my horizons.
Tell us a little bit about your current research for the IRTG.
I belong to Project E – Lead-Free Perovskite Semiconductors with Tunable Bandgap for Energy Conversion of the IRTG, together with the FAU-PhD student Christian Kupfer. My work in this project investigates Raman spectroscopy of organic-inorganic Lead Halide perovskites, and clarifies the structural character of these materials. If we can make happen an application to tune bandgap for energy conversion based on this experiment, it will be very helpful to reach our goal.
What are you looking forward to most when this pandemic is over ?
I usually travel to take photographies of beautiful landscapes. In Japan, I already went to Kyoto, Tokyo, Sendai and Kyushu, and enjoyed a number of great landscapes in these regions. That is why after the pandemic, I will restart to travel in Japan, and if I am allowed to go Germany, I will travel there as well. If it is possible, I really want to see the Rakotzbrücke in Kromlau.