Engineering: M2A Funded MSc by Research Studentship: Transient Absorption Spectroscopy of Perovskite Thin-Films
The Applied Photochemistry Group within SPECIFIC sits at the interface between applied and fundamental research, complementing current applied lab-scale experimentation on printable photovoltaics (PV) by providing the fundamental understanding of properties and processes in materials sets that are suitable for scaling. Applied Photophysics was created in 1971 by The Royal Institution of Great Britain under the leadership of Nobel Prize-winning Lord Porter, and are world leaders in the design and manufacture of instruments for laser flash photolysis.
Efficient commercially successful solar energy conversion has been the holy grail of photochemists for decades. Now the field is ripe for this, with international progress in PV research and technology currently running at an unparalleled rate including major contributions from the SPECIFIC and Sêr Solar groups. Most significantly, developments in the field of organolead halide perovskite based solar cells have introduced an exciting new highly efficient solid state PV technology. These devices show power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 15-20%, including certified 20.1%, in laboratory-scale devices based on APbX3 (A= CH3NH3, X = I, Br, Cl), which makes them an extremely strong candidate to develop a cost- and performance-competitive PV technology. Thus perovskite based PV could seriously compete with silicon and thin film technologies that require vacuum deposition or other expensive non-trivial processing. However, due to the very recent introduction of perovskite absorbers in PV devices, the nature of charge transport and injection characteristics are not yet well understood.
We aim to develop a greater understanding of perovskite device photophysics through ns-ms transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) using our Applied Photophysics LKS80 instrument. Research will initially concentrate on creating a standard measuring set up for looking at perovskite thin films. This will lead to the ability to analyse the photophysics of perovskites in more depth and will provide information which could shape the global development of this technology.
The successful candidate is expected to start their studentship in January 2017.
The Athena SWAN Charter recognises work undertaken by institutions to advance gender equality. The College of Engineering is an Athena SWAN bronze award holder and is committed to addressing unequal gender representation.
Eligibility
Candidates should hold an Engineering or Physical Sciences degree with a minimum classification level of 2:1 or equivalent relevant experience. This project would be suitable for someone with a degree in chemistry, physics, or materials engineering.
Our funders require applicants to also meet the following eligibility criteria:
- You must be a UK or EU citizen (i.e. eligible for ‘home’ tuition fees at the University) and have the right to work in Wales at the end of your studies.
- You must be resident in West Wales and the Valleys at the point of enrolment and throughout the duration of your studies.
- You must not be financially able to participate without the award of grant funding.
Funding
The studentship covers the full cost of UK/EU tuition fees, plus a tax free stipend of £12,500 p.a.
For more information click "Further official information" below.