France – PhD in Thin Film Tandem Solar Cells at Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon

University: Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon Country: France Deadline: Not specified Fields: Materials Science, Physics, Nanotechnology, Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy

The Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA Lyon) is one of France’s leading engineering schools and research institutions, renowned for its strong emphasis on innovation, interdisciplinary research, and industry collaboration. Located in the vibrant city of Lyon, INSA Lyon forms part of the prestigious INL – CNRS / INSA Lyon research ecosystem, fostering a rich academic environment that attracts students and researchers from around the world.

The Institute of Nanotechnology of Lyon (INL) is particularly recognized for its cutting‑edge research in nanoscience, materials science, and advanced engineering, offering access to state‑of‑the‑art laboratory facilities and a dynamic, international research community.

France itself is a global hub for scientific research and higher education, offering an exceptional quality of life, a culture of academic excellence, and robust support for innovation. Pursuing your PhD in France means immersing yourself in a country with a strong commitment to sustainability, a thriving renewable energy sector, and abundant opportunities for career development, both within academia and industry.

The PhD project centres on the development of all‑thin‑film tandem solar cells utilising earth‑abundant materials, a critical step toward next‑generation photovoltaic technologies. As the world faces the urgent challenge of transitioning to renewable energy, solar photovoltaics (PV) stand out as a scalable and sustainable solution. Current commercial crystalline silicon (c‑Si) solar cells are nearing their theoretical efficiency limits, prompting the need for innovative architectures that can achieve even higher efficiencies.

Tandem solar cells, which stack absorbers with different bandgaps, offer a promising pathway to surpass the 29% efficiency ceiling of c‑Si cells, with the potential to exceed 40%. However, prevalent tandem devices often rely on lead‑halide perovskites, which pose concerns regarding toxicity and stability. This project aims to address these challenges by developing fully thin‑film tandem solar cells based on selenium (Se) and kesterite (CZTSe) materials—both earth‑abundant, non‑toxic, and compatible with low‑temperature processing.

The research holds significant promise for reducing material costs, improving device stability, and enabling lightweight, flexible, and environmentally friendly solar modules for a wide range of applications.

The successful PhD candidate will join the Light Engineering and Conversion (i‑Lum) team at INL, working under the supervision of Associate Professor Charif Tamin (INSA Lyon) and Senior Researcher Mohamed Amara (CNRS). The project, titled “Earth‑Abundant Se/CZTSe Tandem Solar Cells:
From Proof of Concept to Real‑World Operation,” is structured around three main research axes:

• Development of tandem‑compatible sub‑cells:
  Fabrication and optimisation of semi‑transparent, wide‑bandgap Se top cells and narrow‑bandgap CZTSe bottom cells for tandem operation.
• Tandem integration strategies:
  Demonstration of Se/CZTSe tandem solar cells via mechanically stacked configurations, followed by two‑terminal architectures using direct monolithic growth and/or low‑temperature bonding.
• Advanced characterization under real‑world conditions:
  Implementation of climate‑relevant characterization, including temperature‑dependent measurements, extraction of temperature coefficients, and reliability assessment under controlled environmental conditions.

Experimental work will be conducted at the Nano Lyon technological platform, which boasts 1,500 m² of advanced facilities, including 825 m² of ISO5‑ISO7 clean rooms for thin‑film deposition, device processing, and optoelectronic characterization. The project also features collaborations with European partners and potential opportunities for research visits and scientific exchanges.

• A Master’s degree (M2 or equivalent) in…