PhD: Nanophotonic Metasurfaces for "Designer" Building-integrated PV Panels

Are you a highly motivated physicist with a strong interest in nanotechnology and photovoltaics? The 2D Nanophotonics group within the Institute of Physics is seeking an ambitious PhD candidate to perform fundamental research at the interface of nanophotonics and photovoltaic material physics for the project High-efficiency metasurfaces for “designer” building-integrated PV.

Integrating large-scale photovoltaics (PV) in densely populated areas poses an urgent need to integrate PV with existing buildings and infrastructure. However, large-scale building-integrated PV (BIPV) hinges on social acceptance, which is strongly improved if the visual appearance of the PV panels matches that of the surrounding structures. Optical coatings that alter the visual appearance provide a unique opportunity to manipulate the reflected spectrum of a solar panel using reflective filters or luminescent coatings. Initial demonstrations prove promising, but are typically inefficient, provide only partial colouring, or exhibit a strong angle-dependence.

Recently, nanophotonic metasurfaces have emerged as a unique tool to control the spectral, angular, and polarization state of optical wavefronts. By leveraging resonant light scattering in such local metasurfaces, the visual appearance of underlying PV modules can be manipulated.

In this project you will study the interplay of different resonant effects and use this to develop a design route for new metasurfaces that provide on-demand visual appearance for the underlying solar panels. The project will combine computer simulations, nanofabrication, optical experiments, as well as integration of the coatings on existing photovoltaic modules.

You will be joining an exciting team of researchers with a strong emphasis on collaboration. We expect you to be an active member of the research group and work closely with the other researchers on this project.

What are you going to do?

You will perform fundamental research on the light-matter interaction in nanopatterned optical coatings and apply these insights to improve building-integrated PV technology.

You will:

• use theory and computer simulations to design new metasurfaces;
• fabricate optical metasurfaces in the cleanroom of the AMOLF NanoLab Amsterdam;
• design and perform optical experiments;
• present your results in international workshops and conferences;
• collaborate with other members of the research group, other groups and partners within the SolarLab and SolarNL network, and (international) collaborators;
• take part in the teaching efforts of the group, including supervision of bachelor and master students.

Your profile

You have:

• a creative, curious and driven nature;
• a Master’s degree in physics or optical engineering;
• an eagerness to learn new techniques and to combine numerical simulations, theory and experiments;
• excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

You are:

• able to work both independently and collaboratively.

Other skills, experiences, and documents that would benefit your application:

• previous experience in an optics lab or cleanroom fabrication;
• demonstrated experience with programming and modelling software (matlab, python, Comsol, Lumerical);
• scientific publications.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,872 to € 3,670 (scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.