Control of electronic properties of metal halide perovskites through vacuum co-deposition

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Metal halide perovskite solar cells have emerged as promising semiconductor devices for next generation photovoltaics. This photovoltaic technology is currently approaching commercialisation and so it is critical to develop high-throughput thin-film deposition techniques that can be applied on an industrial scale. Vacuum deposition is a prime candidate to achieve this, however has to date lacked behind solution-based technologies, owing to a lack of research focus in this area, and the challenges of optimising a large collection of growth-control parameters. This EPSRC PV-CDT studentship will focus on methods to control and optimise the growth of polycrystalline metal halide films via vacuum co-deposition for application in solar cells. In particular, processes will be developed to control the morphology of the films (including crystal size and orientation) and optimise the electronic properties of a range of lead-halide perovskite films. The project will involve understanding the formation of vacuum-deposited metal halide perovskite films, developing apparatus and methods to control growth and performing a wide range of analytic methods to characterise the films (e.g. X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectroscopy, electron microscopy, transmission/reflection optical spectroscopy) and the properties of solar cell devices fabricated from the films (e.g. J-V and EQE measurements). Feedback from device and film characterisation will be integral to the growth optimisation cycle. The proposed research sits in the EPSRC Themes of Physical Sciences, Energy & Manufacturing the Future; and the Areas of Materials for Energy Applications, and Solar Technology and within the EPSRC's portfolio, targeting identified Grand Challenges in Physics (Nanoscale Design of Functional Materials).