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+33(0)1 69 86 58 60
contact@ipvf.fr
Function : Intern
Contract : CNRS internship agreement
Starting date: Spring/Summer 2026
Duration: 6 months
Workplace: IPVF – 18 boulevard Thomas Gobert, 91120 Palaiseau
Education: Master 1 or Master 2
IPVF is a scientific and technical pole dedicated to the research and development of solar technologies. It permanently hosts its own staff, as well as the employees of its partners and external companies. IPVF aims to become one of the world’s leading centers for research, innovation, and training in the field of energy transition.
IPVF primary objective is to improve the performance and competitiveness of photovoltaic cells and develop breakthrough technologies by relying on four levers:
• Ambitious research program.
• The hosting of more than 200 researchers and their laboratories on its Paris-Saclay site.
• A state-of-the-art technology platform (8,000 m²) open to the photovoltaic industry actors, with more than 100 state-of-the-art equipment units located in clean rooms.
• A training program mainly based on a master’s degree, the supervision of PhD students, and continuing education.
Harnessing sunlight to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into value-added chemicals and fuels offers a promising route to mitigate rising atmospheric CO₂ levels while enabling efficient solar energy storage. However, the conversion efficiency of current systems remains too low for large-scale industrial implementation. Achieving high solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency requires the development of new strategies that can deliver both high photocurrent and sufficient photovoltage.
Recent advances in photovoltaic materials and molecular catalysis have opened new avenues for enhancing CO₂ photo- conversion into valuable fuels. Among these, chalcogenide-based photoabsorbers have demonstrated high reactivity toward CO₂ reduction and hydrogen (H₂) production. Nevertheless, when employed as photoelectrodes in solar-to-fuel systems, these materials are exposed to complex chemical environments that can compromise their long-term stability and performance.
The central objective of this research is therefore to identify and understand the degradation processes occurring in chalcogenide-based photoelectrodes, particularly in conjunction with catalysts, under conditions of light exposure and electrical bias. To achieve this, comprehensive characterization, combining electrochemical and optoelectronic analyses, will be conducted to elucidate the degradation kinetics and the structural and chemical transformations occurring within the different layers of the system.
The internship focuses on the advanced electrochemical and optoelectronic characterization of chalcogenide based photo-electrodes for solar-to-fuel applications. Using techniques such as, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence, X, low discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES), and photo/electroluminescence imaging, the candidate will study how different electrolytes and electrochemical reactions influence material stability and performance. The goal is to correlate electrochemical processes with material degradation to identify the most efficient and durable systems for solar-to-fuel conversion.
Cover letter and résumé to be sent to: stefania.cacovich@cnrs.fr and negar.naghavi@cnrs.fr
Feel free to contact us for more information about our offers.
+33(0)1 69 86 58 60contact@ipvf.fr21 – 23 Sep 2026: save the date and join us for the 17th ISOS – International Summit on Organic and Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cell Stability