Missions

The pervasive use of renewable energy, from utility scale to local energy-harvesting is a prerequisite for a global paradigm change in sustainable power sources. One of the best strategies to facilitate this paradigm-change is to integrate photovoltaics in objects and in particular in buildings, by embedding the energy sources into the building skin without impacting the architectural requirements. For this reason, transparent photovoltaics (TPV) plays a fundamental role in the full acceptance of Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics (BIPV), and in general in modern architecture. In this application, partial optical transparency of the cells becomes a critical requirement, which conventional photovoltaic technology cannot fulfil. However, recent development in third generation photovoltaics, namely high band gap Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) and low band gap, fullerene free, organic photovoltaics (OPV), open the way to harvest portions of the solar spectrum that reduce the impact on the visibility of windows.

The main objective of this project is to develop lightweight transparent photovoltaic cells and modules with high Average Visible Transparency (AVT≥50), a well beyond state-of-art efficiency ≥ 15%, and colour neutrality control by combining, in a multijunction fashion, a top Near UltraViolet (NUV) halide perovskite and a bottom Near InfraRed (NIR) polymeric photovoltaic cell, exploiting advanced concepts of light management such as photonic crystals, nanophotonics and photon recycling. The photovoltaic modules will be fabricated independently on rigid or flexible substrates and then laminated together with proper interlayers to fabricate a 2 terminal multijunction structure.

This two-year postdoctoral position focuses on the development of OPV-Perovskite tandem technology ranging from fundamental studies on materials and interfaces to the characterization and optimization of full single junction and tandem devices. The candidate will employ advanced opto-electronic characterisation methods based on PhotoLuminescence (PL) and ElectroLuminescence (EL) imaging to quantify the losses of perovskite and OPV single junction as well multi-junction devices. More specifically, state-of-the-art characterisation methods developed in the hosting laboratory such as Hyperspectral Imaging and Time Resolved-Fluorescence Imaging (TR-FLIM) will be coupled with numerical models, which take into account electron-hole diffusion, drift and recombination and well-established reciprocity relations describing PL and EL emission.

Activités

• Optical and electrical characterisation of Near UltraViolet (NUV) halide perovskite and Near InfraRed (NIR) polymeric solar cells via multidimensional imaging.
• Determination of the losses affecting single and tandem cells
• Understanding of the degradation mechanisms of thin films, interfaces and cells

Compétences

• Physics, Electrical Engineering.
• Optical and Electrical Characterization of thin films, solar cells and modules.
• Knowledge of solar cells and module technologies, ideally perovskite
• Teamwork and problem solving

Contexte de travail

The research will be carried out in the framework of the European project CITYSOLAR recently awarded under the H2020 program. CITYSOLAR brings together world-leading European academic (CNR-ISM, FAU, SDU, UNITOV, CNRS) and industry players (ENI, EDF, Hglass), together with two non-EU partners (BM, KAUST) belonging to Mission Innovation countries specialized in the synthesis of advanced materials for hybrid and organic solar cells, to develop highly efficient and transparent solar cells and modules for Building Integrated PhotoVoltaics (BIPV). The total project duration is three years with the goal of a concept demonstration at a module level on an area larger than 100 cm2.
The project will be carried out at the IPVF (Institut Photovoltaique d'Ile de France - www.ipvf.fr), located in the heart of the new Paris-Saclay campus, in close collaboration with the other partners of the consortium. IPVF has about 8,000 m2 of space, including 4,000 m2 of clean room laboratories, which allows to carry out advanced studies in manufacturing, characterization and modelling of materials, interfaces and solar cell devices. IPVF is a public-private partnership at the initiative of EDF and Total, CNRS and Ecole Polytechnique, associated also with Air Liquide, Horiba and Riber. Research activities range from wafer-based silicon technologies to thin film technologies based on CIGS, III-V or perovskites. IPVF hosts about 150 researchers with different backgrounds, specialised in the fields of physics, chemistry, material sciences, optics and nanosciences in a stimulating research environment.
CNRS/EDF research group: Stefania Cacovich (optical characterisation, CNRS), Daniel Ory (optical and electrical characterisation, EDF), Philip Schulz (interfaces, CNRS), Jean François Guillemoles (theory and physics, CNRS), Jean-Baptiste Puel (theory & modelling, EDF).
The application must include: cover letter, CV, names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number), an electronic copy of your most significant research publications (journal or conference publication).

Informations complémentaires

https://www.citysolar-h2020.eu/