Development of low band gap solar cell for thin film tandem application

Photovoltaics (PV) have the potential to produce electricity on a large scale and thereby help reducing the greenhouse gas emissions. Commonly seen examples of PV are large-scale solar farms or roof top modules based on Si PV. Supplementary to these examples, solar cells may also be integrated in buildings, cars, inhouse devices etc. For these latter options, highly efficient thin film (TF) PV can be used.  

One way to achieve highly efficient TF PV devices is to stack cells with different band gaps on top of each other. In this way both the photon energy as the number of photons in the solar spectrum are optimally used. At Energyville we are working on so-called tandem structures in which a high band gap solar cell on top absorbs the UV and visible light, leading to high voltage output and a low band gap cell at the bottom absorbs the NIR light. 
Within this project novel tandem architectures will be explored using chalcogen based materials (CuInSe2, AgBiS2) as bottom cell. Various synthesis routes will be explored and the materials will be investigated using SEM, EDX, photoluminescence, UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, XRD and more. Solar cell devices will be prepared and characterized with voltage-current measurements. 

This research will be performed at the EnergyVille laboratories in Genk, the PV laboratory from imec. IMOMEC (IMEC-Uhasselt) PV research teams are internationally recognized, thanks to its experts and world-class technology labs (Thin Film PV lab). The student has a background in physics, chemistry, nanomaterials or similar and interest in photovoltaics and experimental work. 

Type of Project: Combination of internship and thesis; Thesis 

Master's degree: Master of Science; Master of Engineering Science 

Duration: 6 months 

Master program: Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Materials Engineering; Physics; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology 

Supervisor:  Bart Vermang (UHasselt) 

For more information or application, please contact Jessica de Wild (jessica.dewild@imec.be)

Imec allowance will be provided for students studying at a non-Belgian university.