Research Fellow
University of Warwick – Department of Chemistry
Location: Coventry
Salary: £28,695-37,394 per annum
Hours: Full Time
Contract Type: Contract / Temporary
Closes: 17th May 2015
Applications should be made via:
http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/ATU668/research-fellow-75705-045/
Fixed term contract for 36 months.
An exciting interdisciplinary opportunity is available to join a Leverhulme Trust
funded project focused on investigating how metal nanoparticle composites can be
used to improve the performance of organic and perovskite photovoltaic devices.
You will be working in the research group of Dr Ross Hatton which is part of the
Physical Chemistry Section in the Department of Chemistry at the University of
Warwick. Dr Hatton’s laboratory is housed in the newly built £24M Materials and
Analytical Sciences building.
This project will involve:
1. the fabrication and characterisation of high performance organic and perovskite
photovoltaics;
2. the synthesis and characterisation of gold, silver and copper nanoparticles in
solution;
3. the preparation of metal / metal-oxide composites and their processing into thin
films;
4. optical and electrical modelling using finite element simulation software.
You will possess a PhD or equivalent in chemistry, physics or materials science with
an excellent research profile in the area of organic and/or perovskite photovoltaics.
You will have experience in the synthesis and characterisation of metal
nanoparticles. Ideally you will also have experience using a finite element modelling
package such as COMSOL Multiphysics or equivalent.
You will have experience in the use of a wide range of photovoltaic device and
nanoparticle characterisation techniques including atomic force microscopy. You will
be able to work both independently and as part of a team, with excellent
interpersonal and communication skills and experience of working to tight deadlines.
Job Description
JOB PURPOSE:
To undertake and contribute intellectually to a programme of work focused on
exploring how composites comprising metal nanoparticles and metal oxides can be
used in organic and perovskite photovoltaics to improve device performance. This
project spans metal nanoparticle synthesis and characterisation, composite
preparation and processing, photovoltaic device fabrication and testing and carrying
out complimentary finite element simulations of electric and optical field.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. To undertake research aimed at exploring the potential of two new concepts in the
design of metal nanoparticle – semiconductor composites for organic and perovskite
photovoltaics under the supervision of Dr Ross Hatton.
2. To synthesise and characterise Au, Ag and Cu nanoparticles in solution and
develop strategies for combining them with solution processed oxide semiconductors
to realise composite films in which the metal nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed.
3. To use COMSOL Multiphysics to simulate optical and electric field intensity and
current flow in uni-polar diodes.
4. To produce regular written and oral reports pertaining to the project as requested;
attend regular project meetings; attend national and international conferences giving
poster and oral presentations; write papers for publication in peer reviewed scientific
journals.
5. To play an active role in the Hatton research group, participating in all group
meetings and activities.
6. To supervise research students, be responsible for installation and maintenance
of equipment and training of personnel on equipment.
Person Specification
The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and
qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. This is measured by
(a) Application Form, (b) Test/Exercise, (c) Interview, (d) Presentation.
Essential Criteria 1
A PhD degree or equivalent in chemistry or physics or materials science (a)
Essential Criteria 2
Excellent research profile in the area of organic and/or perovskite photovoltaics (a),
(c)
Essential Criteria 3
Proven experience in the synthesis and characterisation of metal nanoparticles with
various solubilizing surface groups (a), (c)
Essential Criteria 4
A willingness to learn to perform finite element modelling simulations (a),(c)
Essential Criteria 5
Ability to keep up to date with new developments in the field (a), (c)
Essential Criteria 6
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team (a), (c)
Essential Criteria 7
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to work
effectively in a multi-disciplinary project area of research (a), (c)
Essential Criteria 8
Ability to initiate, plan, organise, implement and deliver programmes of research
work to tight deadlines (a), (c)
Essential Criteria 9
Ability to write and give presentations to both national and international audience
standard (c), (d)
Essential Criteria 10
Excellent writing skills and record of success in published papers (a), (c)
Essential Criteria 11
Interest in interdisciplinary research and willingness to learn new techniques (a), (c)
Desirable Criteria 1
Experience of modifying the solubilising groups at the surface of inorganic
nanoparticles to improve properties such as solubility, stability or conductivity (e.g.
by a ligand exchange reaction, or chemical adaptation of a reactive end group) (a),
(c)
Desirable Criteria 2
Experience of the preparation of nanoparticle – oxide or nanoparticle – polymer
composites and processing these composites from solution into thin films (a), (c)
Desirable Criteria 3
Experience of incorporating inorganic nanoparticles into organic or perovskite
photovoltaic or light emitting devices (a), (c)
Desirable Criteria 4
Experience of using a finite element modelling package - highly desirable (a), (c)
Desirable Criteria 5
Experience with atomic force microscopy techniques, including conducting AFM (a),
(c)
Further Particulars
Warwick chemistry is a thriving department ranked joint 6th in the 2014 Research
Excellence Framework (REF) exercise. It has a critical mass of researchers in the
area of organic, hybrid and, more recently, perovskite photovoltaics including the
groups of Prof. Alessandro Troisi (elementary processes in OPVs using
computational simulation), Prof. Tim Jones (growth/properties of semiconductor
materials for PV applications) and Hatton. The department enjoys strong institutional
support including a new £24M building for Materials and Analytical Sciences in which
the Hatton group is housed. The Hatton laboratory is equipped with all the facilities
required to fabricate and characterise both organic and perovskite photovoltaics
including a spin-coater, thermal evaporator and solar simulator co-located in the
same glove box.
Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy
As an organisation using the (DBS) Disclosure and Barring Service to assess
applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, the University of Warwick complies with
the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any
subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.
More information is available on the University’s Vacancy pages and applicants may
request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.
Closing Date
17 May 2015