His research interests span from the manufacturing of high efficient perovskite solar cells to the investigation of fundamental perovskite photo physics, with a special focus on the design and development of innovative strategies to push device efficiency.

1. Pica et al. Photo-ferroelectric Perovskite Interfaces for Boosting V_OC in Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells, Nat. Commun. 15, 8753 (2024).
2. Zanetta, Larini, Pica et al. Vertically oriented low-dimensional perovskites for high-efficiency wide band gap perovskite solar cells, Nat. Commun. 15, 9069 (2024).
3. Pica et al. Unraveling Bulk versus Surface Passivation Effects in Highly Efficient p–i–n Perovskite Solar Cells Using Thiophene-Based Cations. Sol. RRL 8, 2300681 (2024).
4. Pica et al. Correlating Charge Carrier Delocalization and Surface Passivation to Auger Recombination Rates in Halide Perovskite, submitted (2024).
5. Degani, Pallotta, Pica et al. Compositional Gradient of Br/I 2D Perovskite Interface boosts Outdoor Stability of Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells, submitted (2024)
6. Pallotta, Pica et al. MAPbI3 Solar Cells Back to the Scene: making them toward 22% Efficient and Stable by Reducing Trap density through a Fast Crystallization, submitted (2024)
7. Montecucco, Pica et al. The Stabilization of CsPbI3−xBrx Phase by Lowering Annealing Temperature for Efficient All‐Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells. Sol. RRL 7, 2300358 (2023).
8. Manzi, Pica et al. Ferroelectricity in Hybrid Perovskites. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 14, 3535–3552 (2023).
9. Zanetta, Pica et al. Enhancing Charge Extraction in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells Contacts Via Ultrathin Graphene: Fullerene Composite Interlayers. J. Mater. Chem. A, 11, 12866–12875 (2023).
10. Pancini, Pica et al. A Fluorescent Sensor to Detect Lead Leakage From Perovskite Solar Cells. Mater. Adv. 4, 2410–2417 (2023).
11. Larini, Pica et al. Sustainable and Circular Management of Perovskite Solar Cells via Green Recycling of Electron Transport Layer‐Coated Transparent Conductive Oxide. Adv. Funct. Mater. 34, 2306040 (2023).
12. Larini, Pica et al. From Bulk to Surface Passivation: Double Role of Chlorine‐Doping for Boosting Efficiency of FAPbI3‐rich Perovskite Solar Cells. Sol. RRL 6, 2200038 (2023).
13. Pietropaolo, Pica et al. Rationalizing the Design and Implementation of Chiral Hybrid Perovskites. Chem 8, 1231–1253 (2022).
14. Zanetta, Pica et al. Manipulating Color Emission in 2D Hybrid Perovskites by Fine Tuning Halide Segregation: a Transparent Green Emitter. Adv. Mater. 34, 2105942 (2022).
15. Pica et al. A Step Beyond in Steady-State and Time-Resolved Electro-Optical Spectroscopy: Demonstration of a Customized Simple, Compact, Low-Cost, Fiber-Based Interferometer System. Struct Dyn 9, 011101 (2022).
16. Pica et al. Accelerated Thermal Aging Effects on Carbon‐Based Perovskite Solar Cells: A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Analysis. Solar RRL 5, 2000759 (2021).

PhD in Chemical Science and industrial Innovation                                                         Oct 2021 – Oct 2024

Grancini’s Lab @ University of Pavia, Department of Physical chemistry - Italy

Mission: Design of novel pathways and engineering of perovskite material properties to boost the performances and stability of emerging photovoltaic technologies. Outcome: 15 publications on high impact peer reviewed journals.

 International internship visiting scientist                                                                                    Sep 2023 – Dec 2023

KPV and UFD Lab @ King Abdullah University of Science and Technology - KAUST (Saudi Arabia)

Mission: fabrication and electro-optical ultrafast characterization of innovative photo-ferroelectric perovskite solar cells.

International internship visiting scientist                                                                                   Apr 2023 – May 2023

Lausanne Centre for Ultrafast Science (LACUS) @ Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne – EPFL (Switzerland)

Mission: execution of advanced temperature-dependent ultra-fast analysis of material science on innovative materials for photovoltaics.

Research fellowship                                                                                                                         Apr 2020 – Oct 2021

Grancini’s Lab @ University of Pavia, Department of Physical chemistry - Italy

Mission: Design of an innovative time-resolved electro-optical spectroscopic system for the characterization of solar cells.                                                                                                                                                                                

Outcome: Complete development of the system and publication of the relative proof of concept.

M. Sc. cum laude in Material Physics                                                                                  Oct 2017 – Apr 2020

University of Pavia, Department of Physics - Italy

Mission: Study of thermal degradation in hybrid perovskite solar cells.                                                               

Outcome: Experimental investigation coupled with computational modeling to analyze degradation-induced losses and publication of the corresponding research findings.

Physical Sciences and Engineering Division (PSE), KAUST Solar Center (KSC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.