CONTEXT

Renewable energies constitute a growing part of the energy mix worldwide. In the past few years, photovoltaics have seen an impressive increase in installed capacity, strongly supported by R&D centers.

The efficiency of the silicon technology – that represents 90 % of the market – comes closer and closer to its theoretical limit (c.a. 29%). In order to further improve the photovoltaic (PV) conversion efficiency significantly, technological breakthroughs are needed. A promising pathway towards higher efficiency is to combine the crystalline silicon solar cells with a material that converts more efficiently the most energetic part of the solar spectrum (i.e. UV-visible region). This technology, called tandem solar cell, consists in stacking two difference systems to push the theoretical efficiency limit from 29% up to 42%.

Among the different materials available to fabricate the top cell of the tandem device, hybrid perovskites are particularly promising candidates. These materials have been recently applied to PV with a first proof of concept in 2009. Since then, a massive worldwide research effort has allowed to reach, in ten years only, efficiencies up to 25.5% in single junction and up to 29.5% in tandem with silicon.

In this context, IPVF has fabricated >20% perovskite solar cell with a gap >1.6 eV and developed perovskite modules with efficiency up to 18%. These impressive performances have been obtained on small-scale surface cells and the tendency is now to develop up-scalable processes.
IPVF is now looking for a R&D engineer to join its talented team (ca. 20 people) to work on the development and optimization of materials, architectures and solar cell devices.

The candidate will benefit from a multidisciplinary environment, IPVF expertise and have access to IPVF unique capabilities.

MAIN MISSIONS

As part of our growth, we are looking to strengthen our Programs Direction with the recruitment of a R&D Engineer to join the Program “Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Module” and its talented team (around 20 people) to work on the development and optimization of materials, architectures and processes based on chemical processes for perovskite solar cells.

The candidate will report directly to the Programs Deputy Director of IPVF and will benefit from a multidisciplinary environment, IPVF expertise and will have access to IPVF’s unique capabilities.

Within the Perovskite Team, your main missions will consist in:

• Conduct research studies for the continuous improvement of perovskite-based solar cells, modules and tandems:
– Development and optimization of materials and architectures for perovskite solar cells.
– Coordination with vacuum-based deposition specialists for the development of charge transport layers and transparent conductive oxide electrodes (Atomic Layer Deposition, Sputtering, Evaporation).
– Contribute, as a team member, to the ongoing research activities managed by colleagues

• Collaboration with other IPVF’s programs:
– Coordination with the stability and reliability program to obtain feedback on the optimization of perovskite solar cells.
– Advanced characterization of the developed materials (photoluminscence, compo-morpho, chemical composition, etc.).

• Contribution to the scientific community:
– Propose and implement technical improvements (updated protocols, safety documentation), apply the health and safety rules corresponding to the work situations.
– Contribution to the growth of the program through scientific publications, participation to workshop and conference.

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