Metal halide perovskite photovoltaics, with a focus on the operational stability of tin and tin-lead compositions. My work combines device engineering with mechanistic studies of degradation: the role of A-site cation composition in photostability, mixed ionic-electronic transport and the coupling between tin vacancies and free carriers, tin oxidation pathways, and additive strategies (notably alkylammonium chlorides) that improve efficiency and lifetime simultaneously. Current interests include fullerene-free device architectures and the development of low-cost instrumentation for maximum-power-point tracking under realistic indoor and outdoor operating conditions.

1. Huerta Hernandez, L.; et al. Enabling Alkylammonium Chlorides for Improved Efficiency and Stability in Tin-Lead Perovskite Solar Cells. EES Solar, under review, 2026.

2. Huerta Hernandez, L.; et al. Deciphering the Interplay Between Tin Vacancies and Free Carriers in the Ion Transport of Tin-Based Perovskites. Energy Environ. Sci. 2025, 18 (10), 4787–4799. DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00632E.

3. Huerta Hernandez, L.; et al. Factors Limiting the Operational Stability of Tin–Lead Perovskite Solar Cells. ACS Energy Lett. 2023, 8 (1), 259–273. DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.2c02035.

4. Huerta Hernandez, L.; et al. The Role of A-Site Composition in the Photostability of Tin–Lead Perovskite Solar Cells. Sustain. Energy Fuels 2022, 6 (20), 4605–4613. DOI: 10.1039/D2SE00663D.

5. Lanzetta, L.; Huerta Hernandez, L.; et al. Tin–Lead Perovskite Solar Cells with Enhanced Reverse Bias Stability. ACS Energy Lett. 2025, 2093–2095. DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.5c00727.

6. Xu, H.; Han, J.; Babics, M.; Huerta Hernandez, L.; et al. Elucidating the Photodegradation Pathways of Polymer Donors for Organic Solar Cells with Seven Months of Outdoor Operational Stability. Nature Photonics 2025, 19 (4), 415–425. DOI: 10.1038/s41566-025-01644-x.

7. Alsulami, A.; Lanzetta, L.; Huerta Hernandez, L.; et al. Triiodide Formation Governs Oxidation Mechanism of Tin–Lead Perovskite Solar Cells via A-Site Choice. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146 (33), 22970–22981. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c01919.

• Ph.D. / M.S. in Materials Science, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, 2019–2025. Thesis: “Understanding the Limiting Factors Behind the Operational Stability of Tin-Lead Perovskite Solar Cells and Mitigation Strategies”. Advisor: Prof. Derya Baran.

• B.Sc. in Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Mexico.

• Postdoctoral Fellow, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (since July 2026). Supervisor: Prof. Stefaan De Wolf. Investigating alternative materials for fullerene-free perovskite solar cells.

• Postdoctoral Fellow, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (December 2025 – July 2026). Supervisor: Prof. Derya Baran. Developed a low-cost source meter unit for maximum-power-point tracking measurements under outdoor and indoor conditions.

• Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, City Lungs (2015–2018). Provided outsourced research and development consulting services to early-stage companies.

• Teaching assistant, graduate course “Materials for Energy Conversion”, KAUST (Spring 2024 and 2025); supervisor of 4 visiting and summer research students (2021–2024).

• Dean’s Award, 2023 – granted to the top 10% of PhD students in the Physical Sciences Division at KAUST, based on peer-reviewed publications and GPA.

• 1st place, poster competition, Photovoltaic Innovation in Saudi Arabia conference, 2024 – awarded among 30 posters from KAUST and international institutions.