PhD funded position

The Radiation, Detection and Medical Imaging section (www.rrr.tudelft.nl/rdm) is currently offering a PhD in luminescent materials for photovoltaics. Solar cells have limited efficiency because the energy of absorbed photons in excess of the bandgap of the solar cell material is lost by thermalisation. This colour mismatch problem is the number one loss mechanism in silicon solar cells. An attractive approach to solving this problem is to use quantum-cutting spectral conversion materials. Such luminescent materials can convert a UV or blue photon into two IR photons that are also used much more efficiently by the solar cell. Unlike other approaches to solving the colour mismatch problem, like charge carrier multiplication inside the solar cell, photon multiplication will be attempted outside the solar cell before absorption.The research programme involves: • Design, synthesis and characterisation of silicon nitride and oxide-based luminescent powders and thin films with quantum-cutting function. • Increase of the absorption efficiency of current, quantum-cutting spectral conversion materials by utilising the strong absorption of the silicon nitride or oxide host lattice, or sensitisation by co-activation. • Measurement and modelling of charge and energy transfer processes that control quantum-cutting efficiency. • Application of successful materials as thin films on silicon solar cells.

The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Foundation of Fundamental Research on Matter (www.fom.nl).

Requirements
The candidate should have a Master’s degree or the equivalent in physics, chemistry or materials science. A good command of English (written and spoken) is essential. Please include TOEFL or IELTS scores, and GRE physics score, if available.

Employment conditions
The successful applicant will be employed as junior scientist at the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) with related employment benefits while carrying out research at TU Delft. You are expected to complete your PhD thesis within four years. See http://www.fom.nl for detailed employment benefits.

Relevant links
http://www.rrr.tudelft.nl/rdm
http://www.fom.nl

To apply: Please apply by using the on-line application form:
https://tbe.taleo.net/NA9/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=FOAS&cws=14&rid=57
If you have any problems with the application form, please contact phd-tnw@tudelft.nl.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

TU Delft is the foremost research university in the Netherlands for science and engineering. It is consistently ranked within the top 20 in the Times Higher Education world ranking of science and technology universities.

Faculty of Applied Sciences, TU Delft

The Faculty of Applied Sciences is the largest faculty at TU Delft and is equipped with advanced laboratory and experimental facilities. It has more than 200 academic members of staff and more than 400 post-doctoral researchers and PhD students from all over the world. Many of the members of academic staff are prize-winning scientists and engineers internationally known in their fields of research. The working language in post-graduate education and research is English.

The Faculty conducts both fundamental and application-oriented research and offers scientific education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. Research is spread over six departments. Main areas are biotechnology, life sciences technology, chemical technology, nanoscience and nanotechnology (Kavli Institute of Nanoscience), radiation science and technology including biomedical engineering and energy technology, and applied physics.