Postgraduate Scholarship in Structure, Dynamics and Photovoltaic Performance in Hybrid Perovskites

A funded PhD position is available in the field of neutron and synchrotron scattering in photovoltaic materials.

In recent years organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites have taken the photovoltaic community by storm. Having already demonstrated solar cell efficiencies competitive with silicon, they now look to revolutionise a whole host of technologies utilising the low cost, low temperature solution synthesis and astonishing material properties of the hybrid perovskite. The rapid developments and excitement surrounding this class of materials has been in spite of an incomplete understanding of the structure and dynamics that drives these extraordinary performance, and shedding light on this mechanism is vital if the potential of these materials is to be fully realised.

This project aims to study hybrid perovskite photovoltaic devices, improve our understanding of their structural dynamics through a range of neutron and synchrotron diffraction techniques and correlate this with their photovoltaic performance. This fundamental research will then be applied to the construction and performance characterisation of novel device architectures, improving both efficiency and stability thereby contributing towards the development of new green energy technologies.

The successful candidate will be based in the School of Physical Sciences at the University of Kent’s main campus in Canterbury as part of the Functional Materials Group, and work under the supervision of Mark Green and George Dobre (Applied Optics Group).

This PhD Studentship is due to start in September 2018.

For further information or informal enquiries, please contact Mark Green at [Email Address Removed].

You will need to apply through the online application form on the main University website. Please note that you will be expected to provide personal details, education and employment history and supporting documentation (Curriculum Vitae, transcript of results, two academic references).

Deadline Date for Applications: 22nd June 2018
Interviews to be held on: 6th July 2018