Professor Chee Hing Tan

PhD, BEng

School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Professor of Opto-Electronic Sensors

Theme Lead for Materials and Devices

Head shot of Chee Hing Tan
Profile picture of Head shot of Chee Hing Tan
c.h.tan@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5144

Full contact details

Professor Chee Hing Tan
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Profile

I started as an undergraduate at the School of Electrical and Electronic Enginering at The University of Sheffield in September 1996.

I was awarded a 1st class BEng in Electronic Engineering - Communications, and was fortunate to be given a full scholarship to pursue a PhD degree at EEE.

The PhD in Electronic Engineering significantly broadened my knowledge in Engineering and stimulated my desire to learn and research. In particular, I gained deep understanding of how optical and electronic device properties can be modified by carefully optimised semiconductor crystals.

The ability to select different atoms to be combined in new semiconductor materials has led to many breakthroughs in transistors, lasers, solar cell and detectors.

EEE has provided a wonderful environment for me to explore fundamental engineering questions, advance research to generate lasting impacts and to share my experience with students and researchers.

I have always felt at home because of the strong support from academics, when I was a student, and from colleagues across the department since I became an academic in 2003.

My career has progressed with great support from many great colleagues and students, whom I considered my “extended family”. The welcoming environment and strong research and teaching culture in EEE have helped to enrich my experience in work and in life.

In February 2019 I was appointed Head of Department for EEE, a position of responsibility which I took until Sept 2024. At present I am the Academic Line Manager for academics within the Semiconductor Materials and Devices. We are excited to continue the strong tradition of research and innovation in semiconductor technologies.

Research interests
  • Avalanche photodiodes with electron-only ionisation for “noiseless” avalanche process (F<2) and extremely high gain-bandwidth product (>500 GHz).
  • Design, modelling and characterisation of single photon avalanche diode (Si, GaAs, InAlAs, AlGaAsSb)
  • High speed avalanche photodiodes for optical fiber communication, utilizing very thin avalanche region for improved excess noise and bandwidth (InP, InAlAs, AlGaAsSb lattice matched to InP)
  • Novel multi-colour detectors for radiation thermometry
  • High sensitivity detectors for infrared wavelengths bands NIR, SWIR, MWIR, LWIR and VLWIR
  • Improving energy resolution of soft X-ray detection using avalanche photodiodes
Publications

Journal articles

Conference proceedings

Datasets

Teaching activities
  • Teaching: EEE337, EEE348 and EEE6216
  • Undergraduate tutoring and project supervision
Professional activities and memberships
  • Senior Member of IEEE
  • Co-founder of Phlux Technology