Starting: 10/2025

Duration : 36 months

Laboratory: CNRS – IPVF

Address: IPVF, 18 Boulevard Thomas Gobert, 91120 Palaiseau, France

Supervisor(s): Negar Naghavi & Philip Schulz

Send application (cover letter and résumé) to:  negar.naghavi@chimieparistech.psl.eu  and philip.schulz@cnrs.fr

🔍The Institute:

The research will be conducted within the CNRS-IPVF joint research unit (UMR 9006), part of the Institut Photovoltaïque d’Île-de-France (IPVF), located on the Saclay plateau, in close collaboration with CEA Grenoble. IPVF is a center of excellence in photovoltaic research, bringing together leading industrial partners (EDF, TotalEnergies, Air Liquide, Horiba, Riber) and prestigious academic institutions (CNRS, École Polytechnique). The scientific environment is highly conducive to high-level, multidisciplinary research, offering access to state-of-the-art facilities for the development, characterization, and prototyping of photovoltaic devices. The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

💡Scientific project:

The rise of perovskite-based thin-film solar cells is opening the door to a new generation of high-efficiency, low-cost photovoltaic technologies. Thanks to their tunable bandgap, perovskites are especially well-suited for tandem architectures. As part of the national PEPR TASE/IOTA project, this PhD aims to explore an innovative alternative to conventional tandems by replacing the silicon bottom cell with a CIGS (Cu(In,Ga)Se₂) cell — a low-bandgap absorber (~1 eV). The goal is to develop high-performance CIGS–perovskite tandem solar cells in a two-terminal (2T) configuration, focusing on two main areas:

– Optimizing low-bandgap (1–1.1 eV) CIGS thin films

– Engineering and fine-tuning the interface between the CIGS bottom cell and the perovskite top cell

The ultimate ambition is to surpass 30% power conversion efficiency at the device level, using fabrication processes that remain compatible with scalable, low-cost manufacturing. his PhD project is part of the national PEPR TASE/IOTA program, which aims to develop breakthrough photovoltaic technologies.

👉Main missions:

The PhD candidate will be actively involved in all stages of tandem solar cell development, including:

– Synthesis and optimization of low-bandgap (1–1.1 eV) CIGS absorbers via co-evaporation

– Development and optimization of CIGS/perovskite interfaces using physical or chemical methods (vacuum-based and solution-based deposition techniques)

– Fabrication of monolithic 2-terminal (2T) tandem devices

– Multi-scale characterization of layers and devices:

– Physicochemical techniques: GD-OES, XRD, SEM, AFM, Raman, XPS

– Optoelectronic characterization: IV curves, EQE, PL, CL, and time-resolved measurements

– Optical and electrical simulations (stack modeling and performance optimization)

🧑🏼‍🔬 Profile:

The ideal candidate will have a master’s degree (or equivalent) in Materials Science, Physical Chemistry, Applied Physics, or a related field. He/she will have gained a prior experience in photovoltaic device fabrication, interface engineering, or thin-film growth and characterization. 

A strong motivation for fabrication and characterization of materials and optoelectronic devices is an asset.

He/she will show strong experimental and analysis skills, solid proficiency in English, along with effective communication skills. Proactive, curious, with a rigorous mindset and autonomous, the candidate will also be at ease with teamwork.