Two new Wallenberg Scholars at LiU

26 March 2024

Anders Törneholm

Researchers Feng Gao and Daniel Västfjäll at Linköping University have been appointed as new Wallenberg Scholars. In addition, six LiU researchers will have their scholar periods extended. Each researcher receives between SEK 18 and 20 million for five years for their research.

“Our goal is to give prominent researchers in Sweden free means where they choose what they want to do research on. We hope that this will enable bold and pioneering research,” says Peter Wallenberg Jr, Chairman of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.

In total, the foundation grants SEK 2.1 billion to 118 of Sweden’s best senior researchers. Eight of them are at LiU, of which two are brand new.

Organic semiconductors

Feng Gao, Professor of Optoelectronics at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Semiconductors are a type of material used in almost all electronics. But today’s silicon-based semiconductors have limitations where organic semiconductors can offer new opportunities. Feng Gao will take on the challenges that exist before organic semiconductors can be used for energy conversion and in technology that mimics brain function.

“Organic semiconductors offer a wide range of properties that can increase the number of applications and functions of semiconductor-based components that in turn can promote the transformation to a more sustainable society,” says Feng Gao.

Selfless behaviour

Daniel Västfjäll, Professor of Cognitive Psychology at the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning.

How can you increase the willingness to help others in need or get people to change their behaviour to save the environment? These are some of the questions that Daniel wants to answer as a Wallenberg Scholar.

“I hope my research can help people make more effective everyday choices that are positive for their own well-being and that have a positive effect on the environment – a win-win situation,” he says.

Daniel Västfjäll’s goal is to identify the emotions that can make us act more environmentally friendly and caring toward our fellow human beings. In this way, he hopes to be able to find more effective measures to increase that kind of positive behaviour. By combining the latest social science methods at the intersection of economics and psychology, he will test a new approach to achieve his goal.

Extensions

The six LiU researchers who will receive an extension of their Wallenberg Scholar period are Johanna Rosén, Professor of Materials Physics, Magnus Berggren, Professor of Organic Electronics, Igor Abrikosov, Professor of Theoretical Physics, Olle Inganäs, Professor Emeritus of Biomolecular and Organic Electronics, Erik G. Larsson, Professor of Communication Systems, and Anders Ynnerman, Professor of Scientific Visualisation.

New Wallenberg Scholars

Extensions as Wallenberg Scholars

Johanna Rosén

Deputy Head of Department, Professor, Head of Division, Head of Unit

Magnus Berggren

Professor

Igor Abrikosov

Professor, Head of Division, Head of Unit

Olle Inganäs

Professor Emeritus

Erik G. Larsson

Professor, Head of Division

Anders Ynnerman

Professor, Head of Division

The researchers and their work

Major leap for stable high-efficiency perovskite solar cells

Solar cells manufactured from materials known as “perovskites” have advantages of low cost and short energy payback time. However, such solar cells have problems with stability – something that researchers at LiU, have now managed to solve.

Three men in shirts point to a piece of paper, each with a pencil.

Study: The group most easily misled by financial "bullshit"

Impressive terms about finances and messages that are really pure nonsense. Some groups are more vulnerable for being misled by "financial bullshit". This is stated by researchers at Linköping University, including Gustav Tinghög, in a new study.

MXenes – the future of nanotechnology

Artificial kidneys, powerful batteries and efficient water purification are some of the future applications of a group of ultrathin materials known as MXenes.

Four persons walking next to each other.

LiU research one of the biggest breakthroughs of the year

The magazine Physics World has named LiU research one of the year’s major breakthroughs in physics. In their study, carried out at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics, the researchers showed that soft electrodes can be grown in living tissue.

Impossible materials are created under extreme pressure

Researchers at LiU, among other places, have created a new material that ought to be impossible. Its synthesis is, however, possible thanks to a new method that creates pressure approximately three times higher than in the Earth’s core.

Smart new method to manufacture organic solar cells

The ability to use cheap materials and simple manufacturing methods are two huge advantages of printed organic solar cells. Olle Inganäs and his research group has now developed an even simpler method to manufacture solar cell modules.

Erik G. Larsson, Division of Communication Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering

Erik G. Larsson elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Erik G. Larsson is one of three newly elected members to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA). Larsson is professor at Linköping University and head of the Division of Communication Systems in the Department of Electrical Engineering.

Portrait of Anders Ynnerman presenting in the dome theatre.

Anders Ynnerman elected to visualisation hall of fame

Thirty-two people from all over the world have been selected to become members of the newly formed IEEE Visualization Academy. One of them is professor Anders Ynnerman. “It’s extremely gratifying to be recognised as one of the pioneers”, he says.

Latest news from LiU

Flag at half mast at Linköping University.

LiU flies the flag at half mast

Following the tragic school shooting in Örebro yesterday, the university is flying its flags at half-mast.

Diplomatic talks focusing on nuclear waste and climate

Do the environmental organisations still have a role to play in Swedish nuclear waste final repository design? And is it possible to reach understanding between oil producer Saudi Arabia and the island nation of Fiji?

Person holding a small iridescent disc with tweezers.

Better digital memories with the help of noble gases

The electronics of the future can be made even smaller and more efficient by getting more memory cells to fit in less space. One way to achieve this is by adding the noble gas xenon when manufacturing digital memories.