Student Projects

Here you can find general information on Bsc/MSc end projects related to perovskites for MST, CE (30 or 40 ECTS) or AP students

Metal Halide Perovskites for Solar Cells

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have recently attracted enormous attention since (CH3NH3)PbI3 is successfully applied as photoactive material in photovoltaic devices, yielding solar cells with an efficiency exceeding 25%. Interestingly, these materials can be prepared from cheap precursors and are processed in our lab mainly by thermal evaporation. Moreover, these semiconducting materials combine a number of favourable properties including high optical absorption, efficient charge carrier generation and relatively high charge carrier diffusion lengths. Despite the cheap versatile processing the resulting perovskites have low concentrations of trap states and doping densities. The relationship, however, between precursors, preparation method and on the other side the opto-electronic properties is far from clear. In our research we focus on how these properties depend on the structure, morphology and post production treatment of the perovskite films or crystals.

Collaboration with PVMD group of ESE, EEMCS

For those students who are interested in fabricating complete cells and testing their performance, we have a close collaboration with the PVMD group headed by Prof Olindo Isabella. In the EKL cleanroom all facilities are present to make complete devices, which can be characterised at ChemE or at the PVMD group. 

Activities within the framework of a typical masterproject

We have in house technique to deposit metal halide perovskite layers by spincoating, doctor-blading, or using physical vapour deposition. To reveal the structural properties XRD, AFM SEM and XPS can be performed. The optical properties of the photo-active layers will be studied by (time-resolved) optical absorption and/or luminescence spectroscopy. The Time-Resolved Microwave Conductivity (TRMC) technique can be used to determine the electronic properties like the charge carrier mobility and the excess carrier lifetimes. For additional characterisation Kelvin Probe or Hall measurements can be carried out. Finally, thin films of these materials can be contacted to prepare and study complete perovskite solar cells.

Contact: Tom Savenije

Telephone: 0152786537

Working with the evaporator

MAPI films deposited using physical vapor deposition