Sophie Au-Yong

Sophie Au-Yong’s these was awarded 21/04/23. 'Thermoelectric Properties of Organic Thin Films Fabricated by Thermal Sublimation and Solution Self-Assembly' looked at the problem of waste energy in energy transmission, such as when recharging batteries. Here energy loss manifests as kinetic energy. Historically, this has been treated as a lost resource. Sophie examined the possibilities of devising new material forms that can collect that energy, and making it reusable as a energy source. Her investigations framed these enquiries within big picture perspectives in the cost benefits of these new materials and the possible side benefits of their invention. One of Sophie’s two publications in Chemical Science was selected as one of the ‘most impactful papers’ published in Royal Society of Chemistry journals in that year (2022). Sophie now works at a major supermarket, analysing its cost management processes.