The LCT (Laboratoire Cellules Tandem) laboratory is seeking a PhD student for a 36-month thesis project on the following topic: The stability of perovskite-silicon tandem photovoltaic cells remains a challenge for commercialisation.

You will explore this topic at both the cell level and the nanometric scale.

Descriptif : Perovskite-silicon (PVK-Si) tandem solar cells are candidates for the next generation of photovoltaics. Today, this technology has achieved a record power conversion efficiency of 34.85%. However, one of the key challenges for commercialization is stability. Stability challenges are both at the cell and nanoscale level. During this thesis, the candidate will fabricate their own solar cells and explore stability at the cell level using accelerated aging tests and outdoor monitoring. The results of such cell level tests will be correlated with degradation mechanisms at the nanoscale identified using advanced characterization. For example, probing ion accumulation, structural changes and interfacial defects in the cells using photoluminescence, electron microscopy, XRD and the advanced characterization tools available on the nanocharacterization platform in Grenoble (e.g. XPS, AFM, TOF-SIMS). As well as improving understanding of the origins of instability in PVK-Si tandem solar cells the candidate will be able to modify the composition of the solar cells they fabricate, targeting improved stability.

This thesis project will take place in an internationally recognized laboratory that is competing to commercialize PVK-Si tandem cells. State-of-the-art equipment and high-quality supervision will enable the doctoral student to become part of an international network.

Thesis based on our CEA site at Bourget-du-Lac.

You have a master's degree in one of the following fields: Chemistry, Materials Science and Physics.

If you have a well-developed thesis project and are interested in this thesis topic, please do not hesitate to apply.

You have some initial experience in this field, such as an internship, which will be useful when starting your thesis.