Professor Henry Snaith is a distinguished physicist and leading authority in renewable energy materials at the University of Oxford where he holds the Binks Professorship of Renewable Energy in the Clarendon Laboratory. He currently serves as Group Leader of the Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics Device group and has established himself as a world-renowned expert in next-generation solar technologies. Following his education at Gresham's School in Norfolk Snaith completed undergraduate studies at the University of Bristol before pursuing postgraduate research at the University of Cambridge. He earned his PhD in 2005 for research on polymer solar cells under the supervision of Richard Friend with additional academic guidance from Michael Grätzel.
Snaith's pioneering research on halide perovskites has revolutionized the development of photovoltaic technology establishing an entirely new research field that has attracted global scientific interest and investment. His group's discovery of the exceptional semiconductor properties of metal halide perovskites demonstrated unprecedented potential for low-cost high-efficiency solar energy conversion transforming the landscape of renewable energy research. This groundbreaking work earned him recognition as one of Nature's 10 people who mattered most in 2013 and the prestigious Royal Society Kavli Medal and Lecture in 2017. The commercial potential of this technology was instrumental in the founding of Oxford Photovoltaics in 2010 which has since secured significant funding including a €15 million award from the European Investment Bank to advance perovskite-based tandem solar cells.
Beyond his direct research contributions Snaith has profoundly influenced the global photovoltaics community through his mentorship of numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers many of whom have established independent research groups and commercial ventures worldwide. His scientific leadership extends to his recognition as a Clarivate Citation Laureate in 2017 and as one of the world's hottest researchers that same year when he was also named the second most influential scientific mind by Thomson Reuters. Currently his research group continues to push the boundaries of photovoltaic technology with advanced device concepts for next-generation solar energy conversion focusing on lightweight scalable solutions for decentralized energy generation. As a Fellow of the Royal Society and recipient of the inaugural Blavatnik UK Laureate in Physical Sciences Snaith remains at the forefront of efforts to address global energy challenges through innovative materials science.
