Research Associate in Perovskite Solar Cell Optimisation

Job description:

We have an exciting opening for a physical scientist/electronic engineer with expertise in perovskite solar cell development and optimisation and a passion for research, to join a team of researchers in Sheffield and the companies Power Roll Ltd and DYENAMO. You will work within a EUREKA-funded consortium alongside Power Roll Ltd and DYENAMO on the "Process Optimisation & Production Readiness for Next Generation Solar PV Manufacturing" (POP-PV) project. The primary technical objective is to develop charge extraction materials that function within the specific V-groove back-contact solar cell architecture developed by Power Roll. You can find out more about Power Roll’s back contact PV technology DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.4c02734.

Your experimental work will center on using carbazole-based phosphonic acids, supplied by DYENAMO, to create self-assembled molecular layers (SAMs). These layers will serve as the hole-extracting component in perovskite solar cells. You will start by fabricating regular planar architecture solar cells containing these materials, before moving on to back-contact architectures. You will be responsible for the full fabrication process, including the deposition of both SAMs and perovskite layers using techniques such as slot-die deposition, thermal evaporation, spin-coating, and spray-coating. Once devices are assembled, you will characterize their operational efficiency and long-term stability to determine how different material structures and deposition methods impact performance.

Beyond device fabrication, you will conduct microscopy and spectroscopy to analyze the structural properties of the materials you develop. A portion of the role involves integrating these SAM layers directly into Power Roll’s V-groove architectures and providing the commercial partners with regular technical updates. Your goal is to establish a clear understanding of the relationship between DYENAMO’s chemical structures, your chosen deposition techniques, and the resulting device metrics to assist Power Roll in their manufacturing development.

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