Eurizon.eu

Organization: Lancaster University

Location: Lancaster, UK

Field: Solid state physics

Requirements:

Primary Degree or equivalent in Physics;
English: excellent

Abstract:

Lancaster University (UK) Physics Department has a vacancy for an Early Stage Researcher (ESR) to pursue a PhD degree, funded for a period of 36 months. The ESR will be registered as a PhD student at Lancaster University (http://www.lancs.ac.uk/), and will carry out the majority of his/her research in the Physics Department, (http://www.physics.lancs.ac.uk). Applications must be made on line - therefore please visit http://hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=A192 to apply

Description:

The research project will develop Type II Quantum Dot Materials for Solar Cells based on GaAs. The generation of renewable energy is one of the most important challenges facing society today and solar cells are an important part of the solution. This project will explore novel photonic nanostructures to improve the efficiency and economy of solar energy production. The use of nanostructured materials enables one to tune the absorption properties of these devices leading to a better match to the solar spectrum and subsequently an increased photocurrent through the solar cell. GaAs based solar cells containing GaSb quantum dots (QD) could significantly extend the spectral response beyond 0.9 µm out towards 1.4 µm. In this project the ESR will develop the molecular beam epitaxial growth of type II GaSb QD building on existing expertise at Lancaster. The effects of growth temperature, encapsulation and segregation, Sb surfactant effects and their impact on QD efficiency and photoresponse will be investigated. The ESR will fabricate and characterise GaAs solar cells containing stacked layers of GaSb QD. He/she will gain experience in molecular beam epitaxial growth of GaSb QDs, electron microscopy (SEM and X-TEM) and x-ray diffraction methods as well as photoluminescence and optical absorption spectroscopy. He/she will fabricate prototype QD solar cells using semiconductor processing techniques including; photolithography, dry plasma etching, contact metallisation and carry out subsequent device evaluation together with the other PROPHET partners.
The ESR will join the Semiconductor Physics and Nanostructures Group in the Physics Department at Lancaster ( http://www.physics.lancs.ac.uk/research/condmatt/scpn/index.html ) and will be supervised by Prof. Tony Krier. He/she will work closely with other PROPHET researchers at Technical University of Berlin, (Germany), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy), and the industry partners ST Microelectronics (Italy), with appropriate secondment visits to these partners.
-See also (www.prophet-itn.eu.)

Deadline: 11-04-2011

Contacts:

Link: http://hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=A192

Link: http://www.physics.lancs.ac.uk/research/condmatt/scpn/

Email: a.krier@lancaster.ac.uk

Phone number: 44 1524 593651

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on eurizons.eu