Felipe Murphy-Armando is Senior Researcher and leads the Quantum Modelling Team in the Photonics Theory Group in Tyndall National Institute, UCC.

My research is driven by a fundamental interest in understanding how electron scattering influences the transport, thermoelectric, and optical properties of materials. Electron scattering is a key mechanism that governs electrical resistance, thermal conductivity, and energy dissipation in semiconductors and nanostructures, and its control is essential for advancing next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices.

A central focus of my work is the first-principles calculation of transport properties, including electrical resistance, piezoresistance, and thermoelectric coefficients. These calculations provide predictive insights into material performance under varying conditions, enabling the design of systems with optimized energy conversion and sensing capabilities.

Another major area of my research explores the effect of strain on electron-phonon interactions and alloy scattering. Strain engineering is a powerful tool for tuning electronic band structures and scattering rates, which directly impacts carrier mobility and thermal transport. By combining density functional theory (DFT) with advanced scattering models, I aim to quantify these effects in complex alloys and heterostructures.

I am also deeply interested in energy dissipation and heating processes in nanostructures, which are critical for the reliability and efficiency of nanoscale devices. My work investigates time-dependent energy and momentum relaxation in excited materials, providing a microscopic understanding of ultrafast carrier dynamics and thermalization pathways.

In addition, my research extends to optical properties and photoluminescence in defect- and strain-engineered materials, such as Ge/InGaAs heterostructures, Ge defect-engineered quantum dots (Ge DEQDs) and GeSn alloys. These systems offer unique opportunities for tailoring light emission and absorption, with applications in photonics and quantum information technologies.

Ultimately, my goal is to develop a comprehensive theoretical framework that connects electron scattering mechanisms to macroscopic material properties, enabling the rational design of materials for electronics, thermoelectrics, and optoelectronics.

2015 - 2023, Condensed Matter Physics (PY3105)

2014- , Nanoelectronics (UE6005)