Dr. Yang’s research interest focuses on functional electronic devices (solar cells, thin film transistors, light emitting devices) which hold promise for cost effective applications. The research is a comprehensive system involving rational design of materials (organic semiconductors, hybrid perovskites, inorganic nanomaterials), the control of film morphology, crystal growth, fundamental understanding of electrical properties of the new materials and structures, understanding of nanoscale structure-property relationship, control and understanding of interface s in devices (organic/organic, organic metal etc.), new device architecture development etc.

• The surface of halide perovskites from nano to bulk. Nature Reviews Materials, 5, 809-827 (2020).
• Constructive molecular configurations for surface-defect passivation of perovskite photovoltaics. Science, 366, 1509-1513 (2019).
• High-performance perovskite/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 monolithic tandem solar cells. Science, 361, 904-908 (2018)
• Next-generation organic photovoltaics based on non-fullerene acceptors. Nature Photonics, 12, 131–142 (2018)
• Make perovskite solar cells stable, Nature, 544, 155–156 (2017)
• Low-bandgap conjugated polymers enabling solution-processable tandem solar cells. Nature Reviews Materials, 2, 17043 (2017)
• Improved air stability of perovskite solar cells via solution-processed metal oxide transport layers. Nature nanotechnology 11 (1), 75-81, (2016)
• High-performance multiple-donor bulk heterojunction solar cells. Nature Photonics, 9, 190–198 (2015)
• Interface engineering of highly efficient perovskite solar cells, Science 345 (6196), 542-546 (2014).
• Single-crystal linear polymers through visible light–triggered topochemical quantitative polymerization. Science 343 (6168), 272-277 (2014)
• Interface Engineering of Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells, Science, 345, 542(2014)
• Single-Crystal Linear Polymers Through Visible Light–Triggered Topochemical Quantitative Polymerization, Science, 343, 272 (2014)
• An Efficient Triple-Junction Polymer Solar Cell Having a Power Conversion Efficiency Exceeding 11%, Advanced Materials, 26, 5670-5677(2014)
• Controllable Self-Induced Passivation of Hybrid Lead Iodide Perovskites toward High Performance Solar Cells, Nano Letter, 14 (7), 4158-4163(2014)
• Elucidating Double Aggregation Mechanisms in the Morphology Optimization of Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Narrow Bandgap Polymer Solar Cells, Advanced Materials, 26, 3142–3147 (2014)
• Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells via Vapor-Assisted Solution Process, Journal of American Chemical Society, 136 (2), 622–625 (2014)
• Boost Up Mobility of Solution-Processed Metal Oxide Thin-Film Transistors via Confining Structure on Electron Pathways, Advanced Materials, 26, 4273-4278, (2014)
• Rational Defect Passivation of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 Photovoltaics with Solution-Processed Cu2ZnSnS4:Na Nanocrystals, Journal of American Chemical Society, 135, 15998–16001 (2013)
• Polymer solar cells, Nature Photonics 6, 153–161 (2012)
• Tandem polymer solar cells featuring a spectrally matched low-bandgap polymer, Nature Photonics 6 (3), 180-185 (2012)
• Polymer solar cells. Nature Photonics 6 (3), 153-161 (2012).
• A polymer tandem solar cell with 10.6% power conversion efficiency, Nature Communications, 4, 1446 (2013)
• Tandem polymer solar cells featuring a spectrally matched low-bandgap polymer, Nature Photonics 6, 180–185 (2012)
• High-efficiency solution processable polymer photovoltaic cells by self-organization of polymer blends. Nature Materials 4 (11), 864-868 (2005)

• Developing More Durable Solar Cells | Tech Briefs, September 2023
• Translucent Organic Solar Cells Can be Designed to Absorb Narrow Light Band |  MerCom, 05/2023
• Organic Solar Cells to Power Smart Greenhouses | Optics & Photonics News, 03/2023
• Solar Roofs Harness Sunlight to Power Crop Growth in Greenhouses | Engineering and Technology, 03/2023
• Scientists Think This Tiny Greenhouse Could be a Game Changer for Agrivoltaics | Popular Science, 03/2023
• UCLA Solar Roofs Harvest Energy for Greenhouses | The Engineer, 03/2023
• This Silly Helium-Filled Robot Can Do Some Amazing Things | Slash Gear, 12/2022
• Yang Yang: Challenges and opportunities always go hand-in-hand | Advanced Science News, 08/2020
• Prof. Yang named 2019 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science 11/2019
• UCLA ranked #3 on the World Top Ten Research Groups on the perovskite solar cell research (behind Oxford University and Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln) by the Times Higher Education (THE) 11/2019
• Yang Yang named one of ‘World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds’ 1/2016
• Yang named a fellow of American Physical Society 10/19/2015
• UCLA solar pioneer rolls on toward easier energy harvesting
• Solar cells (like people!) work better with caffeine
• Professors Yang, Kaner named to Royal Society of Chemistry

• B.S., Physics, National Cheng-Kung University, 1982
• M.S., Physics and Applied Physics, University of Massachusetts, 1988
• Ph.D., Physics and Applied Physics, University of Massachusetts, 1992

• The Carol and Lawrence E. Tannas Jr. Endowed Chair in Engineering, July 2011
• Top Hot Researcher in 2010, Science Watch, 2010
• Highest-Cited Paper, Advanced Functional Materials, 2010
• Highest-Cited Paper, Journal of American Chemical Society (JACS), 2008-2010
• IEEE Photovoltaic Expert, 2009.