UK; KESS MRes / PhD Scholarship Silicon Solar Cells 2010

Project Title: Development of low-cost, high-efficiency silicon solar cells
Application Deadline: February 26th 2010
School: School of Engineering
Supervisors: Dr. Owen J Guy
Enquiries: Dr. Owen J Guy, School of Engineering, Singleton Park Swansea, UK.
Tel. +44 (0)1792 513181; email: o.j.guy@swansea.ac.uk
Project Description

This project will develop production process technology for low-cost, high-efficiency thin-wafer, mono-crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells. The project will use reclaimed silicon wafers and thin silicon wafers (several times thinner than standard silicon wafers) to develop silicon PV cells which have the same efficiencies as current state-of-the-art mono-crystalline PV cells but use only a fraction of the silicon material. This crucially will reduce the cost of electricity generated by PV to a competitive level to traditional power generation.
The project will involve innovative metal-contact, doping methods, anti-reflective technology and cell design, in collaboration with the industrial project partner Pure Wafer. Electrical, physical and optical characterisation of cells will also be performed in order to optimise cell efficiencies. This project will then extend its investigation into tandem cells fabrication and thin films by means of wafer bonding and sputtering technologies.
This project will optimise the electrical & optical behaviour of the PV cells focusing on the design of doping profiles and P-N junctions for PV cells. Further investigation will include the electrical characterization of the cell structure.
The second and equally important task is the fabrication, simulation and optical characterization silicon surfaces in order to optimize cell efficiencies. To create an antireflective surface – capable of absorbing a large proportion of incident light – a textured surface can be created through etching silicon. This can be combined with the deposition of anti-reflective coatings. Research will be focused on characterization and simulation of the optical properties of the textured surface and multi-layer cell structures and how they help to absorb incident light and increase cell efficiency.
Energy is one of the of the School of Engineering’s priority research themes with solar electricity generation at the core of the renewable energy technologies at Swansea. This project will work in tandem with UK industry to create innovative technology for photovoltaic (PV) cells and to take this technology forward to commercialisation. The market demand for PV is clear and the use of reclaimed silicon is an environmentally friendly and sustainable energy solution.
The commercial demand for silicon PV is driven by the increasing demand for renewable energy. As fossil and nuclear fuels are expected to run out by around 2060 and the positive impact of bio-fuels on CO2 emissions and food crops is highly debatable the market share for PV is predicted to grow exponentially. It is against this background of runaway energy prices and fear of climate change that new attention has been focused on solar generation as an economically viable energy source.
Qualifications/Skills Required
This is a multidisciplinary project encompassing aspects of physics, electronics, materials or physical chemistry and thus high quality candidates with first-class or 2:1 degrees or a Masters degree from any of these disciplines would be considered.
Eligibility

Applicants must be UK and EU citizens.
Applicants must be resident in the Convergence Area (West Wales and the Valleys) on enrollment and be permitted to work in the Convergence Area upon completion of the scholarship.
Value
The studentship is part funded by the European Social Fund. The scheme pays all university tuition fees (£3,390 in 2009) it includes an annual tax-free bursary beginning at £9,000 (payable monthly), and gives support for consumables, equipment and travel worth £4000 per student where appropriate
KESS Application Forms
KESS application forms (English and Welsh versions) can be obtained by contacting Ms Dawn Morgan via email; H.D.Morgan@swansea.ac.uk or telephone 01792 513721
Application Procedure:
To apply please send in the following to Dr. Owen J Guy (address below), by the February 26th 2010:

1. A completed KESS application form
2. The names of two personal referees
3. An up to date CV
4. A covering letter, in which you should expand on the relevant contents in your CV and wider experience, and why you think you are a good candidate.

The deadline for receipt of e-mail applications is February 26th 2010. Please follow this with an original signed hard copy to:
Dr. Owen J Guy, School of Engineering, Singleton Park Swansea, UK.
Tel. +44 (0)1792 513181; email: o.j.guy@swansea.ac.uk