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Towards lead-free perovskites PD and imagers
Leuven | About a week ago
Unlocking the Potential of Lead-Free Perovskites for Next-Generation Photodetectors and Imagers
Introduction
In recent years, the scientific community has focused on developing lead halide perovskite materials for use in various optoelectronic devices, including solar cells, photodetectors, LEDs, and lasers. Perovskites are highly valued for their exceptional optical and electrical properties, such as an ideal band gap for solar cells, high absorption coefficients, and excellent charge carrier mobility. They also offer the ability to fine-tune their band gap, a structure that tolerates defects well, and flexibility in deposition techniques.
In imec we have successfully developed full inorganic lead halide perovskite, grown by thermal evaporation method, for photodetector and imager applications. By having several evaporation sources and carefully selecting the precursors, tunability of material composition and optoelectronic properties, such as bandgap, can be enabled. The resulting devices exhibit high thermal stability, withstanding temperatures above 300 C. However, the presence of lead in these materials poses a toxicity challenge, creating health risks and hindering their commercialization. Developing lead-free perovskites would be a major step forward in integrating these materials into commercial optoelectronic devices, including photodetectors and cutting-edge imagers being developed at imec.
Topic
The goal of this PhD is to explore and develop lead-free perovskite thin absorbers and integrate them in imec state-of-the-art imagers.
Lead-free perovskite thin films will be developed by thermal evaporation, while different compositions will be screened to obtain the desired performance. Photodiodes will be designed, and the stack will be determined based on electrical and optical simulations. Student will learn to fabricate and characterize the devices and feedback will be used to optimize their performance. Environmental and electrical stability will be evaluated on a regular basis. Finally, thin-film stack will be integrated within imec imager platform for state-of-the-art visible imagers.
The Candidate
- You are a highly motivated recent graduate with a master’s degree in nano-engineering, material science, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, or a related field.
- You have a keen interest in the development and processing of thin-film semiconductors. Your expertise includes device fabrication (preferably by physical vapor deposition techniques) as well as the electrical and optical characterization of both films and devices.
- You will be expected to work safely in a cleanroom environment while acquiring advanced processing and laboratory skills. Regular presentation of results will be a key part of your role.
- As a team player with strong communication skills, you will collaborate within a multidisciplinary and multicultural team across several imec departments.
- Given imec's international environment, an excellent command of English is essential.
Required background: : nano-engineering, materials science, physics, chemistry, or electrical engineering
Type of work: 10% literature study, 20% design/modeling, 40% processing, 30% characterization
Supervisor: Jan Genoe
Daily advisor: Isabel Pintor Monroy, Robert Gehlhaar
The reference code for this position is 2025-108. Mention this reference code on your application form.