The positions are funded by the Danish Strategic Council for Sustainable Energy and Environment – in the project CHALSOL , in which also DTU Nanotech, DTU Energy Conversion, Dansk Solenergi Aps, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and Ernst-Ruska Center for Microscopy, Jülich, Germany, participate.
CHALSOL is directed towards scientific research in Chalcogenide solar cells of CZTS - Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide – A new, high-efficiency material for low-tech solar cells of earth-abundant and environmentally friendly elements”.
There is a global need for a drastic increase of energy production with low cost solar cells of environmentally friendly materials. Cells of silicon are dominating the market, but typically the absorbing thickness of silicon is 100 µm and sufficiently pure silicon crystals are expensive and energy consuming to produce. Thin-film cells of only a thickness of 1 µm have recently appeared on the market, but usually they contain the metal indium, which is not available (or sufficiently inexpensive) for a large scale production of solar cell materials. In the project we will study the physics of a recently discovered, alternative thin-film material CZTS. This material consists of the inexpensive and available elements, copper, zink, tin and sulfur, and has the potential to be just as efficient as silicon or other thin-film solar cell materials. Therefore, CZTS is a promising candidate for future solar cells.
The candidates will work with deposition of thin films, primarily with pulsed laser deposition (PLD), and the subsequent characterization by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and other optical, spectroscopic methods. The aim is to achieve a better understanding of the physical properties of the semiconductor CZTS, which may lead us to production of high-quality photovoltaic materials and ultimately cells of an internationally competitive efficiency (8-10 %).
Experimental experience:
The candidates must have documented experimental skills in thin-film production and optics. In particular we will emphasize:
- Experience in production of films by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), and in
- Hands-on experience in optics, including experience in optical spectroscopy, e.g. THz or Raman spectroscopy
- characterization of films by X-ray diffraction, electron-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy as well as other methods in electron microscopy (e.g.Transmission electron microscopy)
- knowledge of photovoltaic materials
- knowledge of vacuum technique.
Summary of the PhD project at DTU Fotonik
The candidates have the important task of producing high-quality films of CZTS by pulsed laser deposition in collaboration with DTU Energy Conversion (with Nini Pryds as co-supervisor), to make THz –spectroscopy with advanced optical equipment (with Peter Uhd Jepsen as co-supervisor) and to participate in the characterization of the samples in collaboration with DTU Nanotech and the other partners. The working place will be DTU Fotonik at Risø Campus and partly on Lyngby Campus, but also visits to other partners will be undertaken. The scholarship is planned to start 1 May 2013, but a later starting date is possible if required.
Qualifications
You should have a master's degree in physics, materials science, optics, engineering or a similar one with an academic level equivalent to the master's degree in engineering. You will also have the ability to work independently when planning and carrying out complicated tasks. Furthermore, you have good communication skills in written and spoken English.
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.
Salary and appointment terms
The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students. The period of employment is 3 years.
Further information
Please contact Senior Scientist Jørgen Schou, tel: +45 46 77 47 55, email: josc@fotonik.dtu.dk.
You can read more about DTU Fotonik on www.fotonik.dtu.dk.
Application
We must have your online application by 1 April 2013.
Applications must be submitted as one pdf file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online," fill in the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one pdf file. The file must include:
- A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
- Curriculum vitae
- Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma
- Excel sheet with translation of grades to the Danish grading system (see guidelines and excel spreadsheet here)
Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master's degree, but cannot begin before having received it.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.
Source: http://www.career.dtu.dk/?guid=0b8f5cbd-7e44-4c8a-b6d9-d9a728f2a6a6