Work Activities
Recombination junctions are required for tandem and multijunction solar cells in order to short together the positive contact from one sub-cell to the negative contact of the adjacent sub-cell. This layer ideally would not introduce any electrical loss, while also providing transmission to the longer wavelength photons (for the bottom sub-cell) and diffuse reflectance for the shorter wavelength photons (for the top sub-cell). It should not absorb any light. In some cases it is also very helpful for the recombination junction to act also as a diffusion barrier, for example to relax the constraints with solvent orthogonality in subsequent layers or to prevent migration of ions from one sub-cell to the other (or from one contact layer to the other).

The primary aims for this project are to determine to which extent printing and patterning can be useful for recombination junctions in halide perovskite tandem and multi-junction solar cells. One major question is if two sub-cells can be laminated onto each other with a printed recombination junction in between, in a process analogous to wafer bonding used in Si/III-V multijunction or inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cells. This would allow for independent processing of the individual sub-cells, eliminating solvent orthogonality constraints and might also enable recombination junctions that could be made on high temperature substrates and then printed onto the cell (e.g. poly-Si recombination junctions). Another question is if a low density of printed nanoparticles can provide an effective recombination junction (electrically), since this configuration can dramatically reduce absorption while the pattern itself also provides the possibility for tunable spectral splitting. Finally, new materials for recombination junctions will be explored.

Three research goals:

1. Demonstrate lamination of two separately processed sub-cells into a functioning tandem.
2. Demonstrate printing of a recombination junction onto the top contact layer of the bottom sub-cell and subsequent top cell processing to make a functioning tandem
3. Test new recombination junction materials for halide perovskite tandems. These could include for example Cu, Ni, SnO2 or CuxS nanoparticles, or highly doped poly-Si thin films.

Embedding

The project is part of a large national initiative, SolarLab, aimed at coordinating all academic solar research in the Netherlands and supporting the Dutch solar photovoltaic industry. For more information, visit solarlab-nl.org.

You will join 40 other PhD students from across the Netherlands to tackle fundamental research challenges that underpin industrial activities in solar. This team of PhD students will participate in workshops together and closely collaborate with industrial and applied research partners to ensure that research outcomes are swiftly implemented in the solar PV industry.

Qualifications
We invite applications from highly motivated candidates with a strong background in physics, chemistry, materials science, or engineering, and a keen interest in solar cells. We especially encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply. Prospective PhD candidates must hold an MSc degree in a natural science or engineering discipline or equivalent qualification.

Work environment
The Nanoscale Solar Cells Group synthesizes advanced metal and semiconducting nanostructures, characterizes their material properties and integrates them into novel device structures with the aim of improving our fundamental understanding of light absorption, charge separation, recombination and transport at the nanometer scale.

We have 2 main focus areas: improving halide perovskite solar cells and using light to drive and monitor chemical reactions. We value diversity in every sense: research background, ethnicity, gender, nationality, orientation, age and beliefs and see developing talent from underrepresented groups as an essential part of or mission.

We offer a highly collaborative and supportive environment, fostering strong connections both within the group and with our national and international partners. PhD students benefit from a variety of courses designed to enhance their research skills.

AMOLF is a part of NWO-I and initiates and performs leading fundamental research on the physics of complex forms of matter, and to create new functional materials, in partnership with academia and industry. The institute is located at Amsterdam Science Park and currently employs about 140 researchers and 80 support employees. www.amolf.nl

Working conditions

• The working atmosphere at the institute is largely determined by young, enthusiastic, mostly foreign employees. Communication is informal and runs through short lines of communication.
• The position is intended as full-time (40 hours / week, 12 months / year) appointment in the service of the Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO-I) for the duration of four years
• The starting salary is 2.781 Euro’s gross per month and a range of employment benefits.
• After successful completion of the PhD research a PhD degree will be granted at the University of Amsterdam.
• Several courses are offered, specially developed for PhD-students.
• AMOLF assists any new foreign PhD-student with housing and visa applications and compensates their transport costs and furnishing expenses.

More information?
For further information about the position, please contact Erik Garnett: e.garnett@amolf.nl

Application
You can respond to this vacancy online via the button below.

Online screening may be part of the selection.

Diversity code
AMOLF is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select on the basis of competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.

AMOLF has won the NNV Diversity Award 2022, which is awarded every two years by the Netherlands Physical Society for demonstrating the most successful implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

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