Hydrogen degradation in silicon solar cells and modules

Hydrogen is everywhere and it is degrading our solar cells and modules! We need people to help us work out how and why. Please get in contact if you are interested in a PhD to help us solve this challenge using any or all of:

• Modelling (Sentaurus) - of hydrogen behaviour in silicon.
• Lab studies – fabricating silicon solar cells and modules with hydrogen and deuterium (heavy hydrogen) and studying their performance behaviour in accelerated field conditions. 
• Machine Learning – using fabrication and degradation data to predict degradation or determine the dominant predictors. 

Further context

Photovoltaic (PV) solar has the potential to decarbonise our energy systems and minimise climate change. In recent years, the PV industry has rapidly transitioned to making higher efficiency solar cells. With such changes, and pushing efficiency limits, new defects and reliability issues appear. 

“PV module underperformance is costing US$2.5 billion globally” – PVTech, 28th Feb 2023

Our team at UNSW developed award winning commercial advanced hydrogenation processes – the ability to control hydrogen to passivate almost any defect in silicon - used in almost all cells manufactured today. About a decade ago, it was found that the hydrogen was contributing to a new type of degradation: Light- and elevated Temperature- Induced Degradation (LeTID). Despite >1,000 research papers on the topic, no one really knows how or why. At UNSW, we have world class labs, and the world leading experts on hydrogen behaviour in silicon solar cells, if anyone can solve this challenge, it’s us! Come and join our team.

Requirements

• Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Computer Science or similar. Overall GPA must be at least 80% or equivalent.
• Masters Degree: Priority will be given for those who graduated from a Masters by research program, with a strong semiconductor physics emphasis, can be theoretical or experimental focussed. Overall GPA must be at least 80% or equivalent.
• Prior research experience is considered key for competitive scholarships for international students.

Supervisors will support suitable candidate's scholarship applications, please get in touch by September 8th, 2023 for applications in the current round (due Sept 22 for commencement in T1 2024 for domestic students or T2/T3 2024 for international students). The next round will be in March 2024.

Supervision will be from:

• Dr. Alison Ciesla (https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-alison-maree-ciesla)
• Dr. Phillip Hamer (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/phillip-hamer)
• Prof. Ziv Hameiri (https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/professor-ziv-hameiri)

How to Apply

Please contact Dr Alison Ciesla (a.ciesla@unsw.edu.au) and attach the following documents: CV, academic transcript, and your motivation for doctoral studies including how your background aligns with the project. You must also apply for admission and scholarship by 22 September 2023.