Experimental Semiconductor Physics

Course with Participations of Group Members

Offers for Theses in the Group

Controlled Fabrication of Chiral Lead-Free Perovskites

 The Deschler group at the Walter Schottky Institute of TU Munich invites applications for

Bachelor/Master Projects on Controlled Fabrication of

Chiral Lead-Free Perovskites

 

The group

The Deschler group is an independent research group at Walter Schottky Institute of TU Munich, established through the DFG Emmy-Noether Program and an ERC starting Grant. Our research focuses on the ultrafast dynamics of functional materials and their applications energy applications. More information can be found on our website at https://www.wsi.tum.de/views/sub_group.php?group=Deschler&sub_page=home

 

Your projects

Hybrid organic inorganic perovskites are optoelectronic materials with tunable chemical and electronic structures. Incorporating chiral organic molecules into perovskite networks also attracts great attention due to their potential optical communication applications. Nevertheless, most reported chiral perovskite materials possess highly toxic Pb, which potentially limits their practical applications. In this project, your work would focus on introducing chiral organic molecules into hybrid lead-free perovskite, and grow corresponding high-performance single crystals and thin films. You will spearhead the design and fundamental understanding of novel functionality in materials. Specifically, you can work on one of following topics:

·     Designing chiral lead-free perovskites with different chiral organic molecules

·     Incorporating MA, FA, or Cs into chiral lead-free perovskites to get different layers samples

·     Transition metal doping on chiral lead-free perovskites to acquire magnetic properties

During your Bachelor or Master project in our group, you will have the chance to gain hands-on experience in the solution-/vapor-based synthesis of novel functional materials, a range of state-of-the-art spectroscopic, optoelectronic and diffraction tools, as well as detailed understanding of the physics of functional semiconductors. Dedicated support from a PhD student or postdoc will be available during your project. You will be expected to make scientific discoveries and contribute to the dynamic atmosphere of our group.

 

Your Application

Applications should be sent to felix.deschler@tum.de. Please include your CV, and other related documents. Looking forward to your applications!

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics

Supervisor: Felix Deschler

Controlled Fabrication of Chiral Lead-Free Perovskites

 

The Deschler group at the Walter Schottky Institute of TU Munich invites applications for

Bachelor/Master Projects on Controlled Fabrication of Chiral Lead-Free Perovskites

 

The group

The Deschler group is an independent research group at Walter Schottky Institute of TU Munich, established through the DFG Emmy-Noether Program and an ERC starting Grant. Our research focuses on the ultrafast dynamics of functional materials and their applications energy applications. More information can be found on our website at https://www.wsi.tum.de/views/sub_group.php?group=Deschler&sub_page=home

 

Your projects

Hybrid organic inorganic perovskites are optoelectronic materials with tunable chemical and electronic structures. Incorporating chiral organic molecules into perovskite networks also attracts great attention due to their potential optical communication applications. Nevertheless, most reported chiral perovskite materials possess highly toxic Pb, which potentially limits their practical applications. In this project, your work would focus on introducing chiral organic molecules into hybrid lead-free perovskite, and grow corresponding high-performance single crystals and thin films. You will spearhead the design and fundamental understanding of novel functionality in materials. Specifically, you can work on one of following topics:

·     Designing chiral lead-free perovskites with different chiral organic molecules

·     Incorporating MA, FA, or Cs into chiral lead-free perovskites to get different layers samples

·     Transition metal doping on chiral lead-free perovskites to acquire magnetic properties

During your Bachelor or Master project in our group, you will have the chance to gain hands-on experience in the solution-/vapor-based synthesis of novel functional materials, a range of state-of-the-art spectroscopic, optoelectronic and diffraction tools, as well as detailed understanding of the physics of functional semiconductors. Dedicated support from a PhD student or postdoc will be available during your project. You will be expected to make scientific discoveries and contribute to the dynamic atmosphere of our group.

 

Your Application

Applications should be sent to felix.deschler@tum.de. Please include your CV, and other related documents. Looking forward to your applications!

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Felix Deschler

Electron-Selective ALD Protection Layers for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution

The Chair for Experimental Semiconductor Physics (Prof. Sharp) at the Walter Schottky Institute of the Technical University Munich (TUM) investigates novel materials for solar energy conversion applications. Our research explores different design strategies to improve the photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity and stability of energy materials under operation conditions. One promising path to PEC solar water splitting is the development of functional photoelectrodes from multi-junction solar cells. For this, new ultra-thin protection layers that provide corrosion protection while maintaining efficient charge transport need to be developed. This Master’s thesis focuses on the synthesis of electron-selective protection layers for PEC hydrogen evolution by means of atomic layer deposition (ALD). In this thesis, you will investigate and tune the chemical stability, optical and electrical properties of ALD grown metal-oxides. In the second phase of your thesis, you will employ the developed protection layers to prepare functional photoelectrodes from multi-junction solar cells with the goal of an improved PEC performance. In our group, you will have the chance to gain hands-on experience in atomic layer deposition and sophisticated physical vapor deposition methods, state-of-the-art spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, optoelectronic and diffraction techniques, as well as detailed understanding of the physics of functional semiconductors. Dedicated support from a PhD student will be available during your project. We are looking for a highly motivated student with background knowledge in semiconductor physics and/or photoelectrochemistry. contact: Tim Rieth

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics

Supervisor: Ian Sharp

Exploration of Novel Photoactive Ternary Nitrides

The Chair for Experimental Semiconductor Physics (Prof. Sharp) at the Walter Schottky Institute of the Technical University Munich (TUM) investigates novel photoelectrode materials for solar energy conversion applications. Our research explores new materials and different design strategies to improve the photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity and stability of energy materials under operation conditions. Here for, transition metal nitrides represent a versatile chemical space for creating new functional materials with tunable properties for a variety of applications, including e.g. solid-state lighting, integrated circuits, and photocatalysis. This master thesis focuses in the first half on the synthesis and exploration of an unreported novel ternary nitride semiconductor with the goal to develop a new, efficient and stable photoanode. The second part will be dedicated to overcome stability and efficiency limiting effects such as oxidation and corrosion via the applications of surface passivation coatings and treatments. In our group, you will have the chance to gain hands-on experience in reactive magnetron co-sputtering and other sophisticated physical vapor deposition methods, state-of-the-art spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, optoelectronic and diffraction techniques, as well as detailed understanding of the physics of functional semiconductors. Dedicated support from a PhD student will be available during your project. We are looking for a highly motivated student with background knowledge in semiconductor physics and/or photoelectrochemistry.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics

Supervisor: Ian Sharp

Semiconductor photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting

The Chair for Experimental Semiconductor Physics (Prof. Sharp) at the Walter Schottky Institute of the Technical University Munich (TUM) investigates novel photoelectrode materials for solar energy conversion applications. Our research also explores new materials and different design strategies to improve the photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity and stability of energy materials under operation conditions. More information can be found on our website www.wsi.tum.de. The Master’s project will focus on photoelectrochemical water splitting to generate hydrogen as storable chemical fuel using multi-layer semiconductor photoelectrodes. In this context, one of the main challenges is the material stability under the harsh PEC operating conditions. To overcome this limitation, the Master’s project will focus on protecting/passivating the semiconductor surface with conformal functional layers. Specifically, you will synthesize cobalt oxide thin films by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition on semiconductor light absorbers to yield stable and catalytically active photoelectrodes. Thereby you will explore the influence of composition, optical and interface properties on the photoelectrochemical characteristics. Furthermore, you will investigate these multilayer photoelectrodes under operando conditions utilizing nanoscale microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to gain fundamental insight into their performance under oxygen evolution condition. In our group, you will have the chance to gain hands-on experience in atomic layer deposition of thin catalyst layers, state-of-the-art spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, optoelectronic and diffraction techniques, as well as detailed understanding of the physics of functional semiconductors. Dedicated support from a PhD student will be available during your project.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Condensed Matter Physics

Supervisor: Ian Sharp

Current and Finished Theses in the Group