R&D Process Engineer - Perovskite Modules

IPVF IN BRIEF

Become an actor of the Energy Transition by joining a team driven by innovation and impact to address today’s most decisive challenges.

IPVF - Institut Photovoltaïque d’Île-de-France, is a global Research, Innovation and Education center, which mission is to accelerate energy transition through science & technology.

Gathering industrial PV leaders (EDF, TotalEnergies, Air Liquide, Horiba and Riber) and world-renowned academic research organizations (CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique), multi-disciplinary and international IPVF teams conduct research for clean energy technologies. Supported by the French State, IPVF is labelled Institute for Energy Transition (ITE).

IPVF at a glance:

• An ambitious Scientific and Technological Program (6 programs divided in 24 work packages): from tandem solar cell technologies to economy & market assessment, state-of-the art characterization, photocatalysis and breakthrough concepts.

• A state-of-the-art technological platform (8,000m²): more than 100 cutting-edge equipments worth €30M, located in cleanrooms (advanced characterization, materials deposition, prototypes for fabrication, modelling…).

• A high-standard Education program (M.S. and PhD students).

JOB 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 efficiencies 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 a 20% perovskite solar cell with a gap of 1.6 eV and developed perovskite modules with efficiency of 16%. 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 Process Engineer to join its talented team (ca. 20 people) to work on the optimization of the perovskite modules fabrication, while maintaining a high process quality to ensure reproducibility during modules production.

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

More information on IPVF Research Program involving this position:

https://www.ipvf.fr/jean-rousset-introducing-ipvf-programme-2-perovskite...

Website: https://www.ipvf.fr

MAIN MISSIONS

The candidate will directly report to the Programs Deputy Director of IPVF and will integrate a dynamic and talented team driven by innovation and results.

Her/his main missions will consist in:

Fabrication and characterization of perovskite modules

- Optimization of the perovskite module scribing process (laser and/or mechanical scribing).

- Assessment of the modules performances: efficiency monitoring, impact of the interconnections, encapsulation evolution…

- Development of large-scale (>100cm²) modules.

- Conduct electrical and optical characterization: SEM, EL, TLM, profilometry, wide-field PL…

- Ensure the quality and repeatability of the process for modules productions.

- Investigate innovative interconnection methods.

Optimization of semi-transparent modules

- Development of semi-transparent electrodes (growth and optimization of TCO layers, buffer layers, ARC, integration to perovskite modules).

- Opto-electronic characterizations.

- Optical modeling.

- Monitoring of semi-transparent modules performances.

- Production of modules for tandem solar cells fabrication.

Technical support

- In charge of equipments (troubleshooting, trainings…).

- Work in close collaboration with both the Reliability and Prototyping teams to contribute to tandem solar cells improvements.

PROFILE

Knowledge

• Materials science.
• Physics of semiconductors.
• Thin films.

Know-how

• Hands-on experience in cleanrooms.
• Previous experience in photovoltaics device fabrication and characterization is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience in reactive sputtering and laser scribing is a plus.
• Knowledge of modeling (e.g. MATLAB) is an asset.

Self-management skills

• Desire to work in the labs.
• Curious, enterprising and creative.
• Autonomous.
• Excellent communication (written and oral) skills.
• Collaboration with cross-functional and diverse teams.

CONTACT

Cover letter and résumé to be sent to:

• jean.rousset@edf.fr
• rh@ipvf.fr

Function: R&D Engineer

Contract type: COD

Starting date: ASAP

Working place: Palaiseau, France (technology cluster, Paris area)

Duration: 36 months

Education: PhD in Materials Science, Physics of Semiconductor or related