The selected candidate will perform groundbreaking applied research towards very high efficiency nanowire solar cells. The candidate will fabricate nanowire arrays by either top-down etching or bottom-up growth within the NanoLab@TU/e cleanroom. These nanowires should subsequently be optimized using photoluminescence spectroscopy. FDTD simulations will guide in the nanowire optimization process. As a final step, the nanowires will be processed into nanowire solar cells and their efficiency will be certified.

This project aims to approach 46.7 percent ultimate efficiency limit of a solar cell by using nanophotonic engineering. Based upon our recent paper (Nano Lett 16, 6467 2016), we will investigate tapered nanowire arrays. We intend to optimize the internal radiative efficiency by using proper surface passivation. The next challenge is to optimize the light extraction efficiency by optimizing nanowire tapering. Starting from our present 17.8 percent world-record nanowire solar cell, it is our objective to closely approach the 33.7 percent Shockley Queisser limit. The final challenge is to try to beat the Shockley Queisser limit by nanophotonic engineering.

For the PhD position, we seek a highly talented, enthusiastic, and exceptionally motivated candidates with an MSc degree in Physics. Interest in materials science, solid-state physics and/or cleanroom experience is highly desirable. The candidate must have strong communication skills, including fluency in written and spoken English.

Fixed-term contract: four years.

When fulfilling a PhD position at the NWO Institutes Organisation (formerly FOM), you will get the status of junior scientist. You will have an employee status and can participate in all the employee benefits the NWO Institutes Organisation (NWO-I) offers. You will get a contract for four years. Your salary will be up to a maximum of 2,834 euro gross per month. The salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8 percent and an end-of-year bonus of 8.33 percent. You are supposed to have a thesis finished at the end of your four year term with NWO-I. A training programme is part of the agreement. You and your supervisor will make up a plan for the additional education and supervising that you specifically need. This plan also defines which teaching activities you will be responsible (up to a maximum of ten percent of your time). The conditions of employment of NWO-I are laid down in the Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres (Cao-Onderzoekinstellingen), more exclusive information is available at this website under Personeelsinformatie (in Dutch) or under Personnel (in English). General information about working at NWO-I can be found in the English part of this website under Personnel. The 'Job interview code' applies to this position.

Eindhoven University of Technology

The work will be performed in the Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics group at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). This group has a leading international position in the area of Semiconductor Nanophysics, Nanophotonics and Nanowires, and is part of the COBRA research institute.