WISE Postdoctoral position in thin film solar cells

Published: 2024-03-08

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering aims to be an environment for successful and valuable research and education with a focus on materials science solutions for important societal challenges. Our department is an exciting workplace with research in a broad technology-related area, from basic research to large-scale applied research, and close contacts with students through the department's involvement in civil engineering, bachelor's and master's programs. Our research and teaching is conducted within seven divisions with different research focus.

The Division of Solar Cell Technology is part of the Department of Materials Science, and engineering, Ångström Laboratory. The research within the division of Solar Cell Technology is internationally well known and is dedicated to fundamental understanding as well as development of effective and low-cost solar cells based on thin film technologies. The focus is on materials containing chalcogens such as sulfur and selenium, e.g. (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) where we in 2024 have published a world record and Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTS), but also inorganic perovskites, such as ZrBaS3.

This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE, wise-materials.org). WISE, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and will encompass major efforts at Sweden’s foremost universities over the course of 10 years. The vision is a sustainable future through materials science. Read more: https://wise-materials.org

All early-stage researchers recruited into the WISE program will be a part of the WISE Graduate School, an ambitious nationwide program of seminars, courses, research visits, and other activities to promote a strong multi-disciplinary and international network between PhD students, postdocs, researchers, and industry.

Project description
The project aims at fundamental understanding of properties of solar cell materials as a basis for improving solar cell performance. The main route for improved performance explored is tandem solar cells, where the current bottleneck is a stable and efficient top cell. The starting point is the commercial and high efficiency CIGS-technology, where Ag-alloying can be used to tune properties suitable for a top cell. Here, Ag-alloyed CIGSe will be studied in both the stoichiometric chalcopyrite (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 and Cu-poor (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)3Se5 ordered vacancy compound (OVC) phases. As these normally form a phase mixture in solar absorber films, which is believed to cause metastabilities and adversely affect solar cells, carefully repeated material deposition and thorough characterization of the resulting films are necessary. The properties to analyze include phase stability and film morphology, band gap energy and edge positions, conductivity type and doping density, light absorption and ionic mobility for dopants. All these will be studied for different alloy compositions and in relation to the conventional CIGSe within this project. The results will be cross-verified by first-principles calculations.

Work duties
The duties are mainly related to fabrication of solar cell materials as well as materials characterization and publication of results.This includes synthesis of solar cell materials in the clean-room facility in the Ångström laboratory at Uppsala University, mainly using vacuum based methods and materials characterization, optical and electrical characterization.The film growth will be done using thermal co-evaporation, followed by various treatments, such as thermal annealing, alkali or other dopant layer deposition, and chemical etching. The characterization techniques will include: (i) SEM, TEM, EDS, GI-XRD, Raman scattering, XRF, and GDOES for the deposited materials; (ii) ellipsometry, spectrophotometry, and photoluminescence for optical characterization; (iii) current-voltage, quantum efficiency, capacitance-voltage, and Hall-effect measurements for electrical characterization.

In addition to research, some participation in teaching is also included, e.g. supervision of doctoral students, and also master's and project students. Communication of research results through scientific articles in well-established scientific journals and presentations at international conferences are also important aspects of the position. You are also expected to contribute to applications for external research funding.

Qualification requirements
PhD degree, or foreign degree equivalent to PhD degree. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

For this position a PhD degree in physics, materials chemistry, engineering physics, materials science or similar with focus on semiconductor materials or solar cells is required. We also require documented knowledge and experience in synthesis and characterization of materials, preferably in the form of thin films, using the techniques listed in the project description above.

We require excellent skills in oral and written English and very good skills in writing scientific publications.

Additional qualifications
Documented knowledge and experience on solar cell fabrication and characterization is a strong merit, as well as handling of vacuum equipment. Documented knowledge and experience in materials and electrical characterization is meriting.

We require good skills in independent work, to be able to lead and execute subprojects, to have good ability for collaboration with other researchers and a structured way of working.

When assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the applicant's documented experience of publishing scientific works in high-quality journals and giving presentations at scientific meetings.

The applications must contain:

• A personal letter in English describing yourself, your research interests as well as why you are a good match for this position.
• CV (max. 2 pages)
• Publication list
• Copies of three publications of special relevance
• Copy of PhD exam, PhD and master level educational transcripts and other merits of relevance
• Names and contact details (address, email address and telephone number) to at least two contact persons that have accepted to be references for you. Please state you relation to these references.

The application should be written in English. During the application period, we will continuously read application documents and call for interviews.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date as soon as possible or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Professor Charlotte Platzer Björkman ([email protected]) ot  Dr Kostiantyn V. Sopiha ([email protected])

Please submit  your application by 11 April 2024, UFV-PA 2024/752.

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Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all of our 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University
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Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Placement: Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Type of employment: Full time , Temporary position

Pay: Individual salary

Number of positions: 1

Working hours: 100%

Town: Uppsala

County: Uppsala län

Country: Sweden

Union representative: Seko Universitetsklubben [email protected]
ST/TCO [email protected]
Saco-S-föreningen [email protected]

Number of reference: UFV-PA 2024/752

Last application date: 2024-04-11

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