Postdoc in Data-Driven Design of Chalcogenide Thin Films for Advanced Photovoltaics - DTU Electro

DTU — Technical University of Denmark; Kongens Lyngby; On-site; DKK 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

DTU Electro seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher to advance sustainable solar energy by developing Sb₂S₃ and Sb₂(S,Se)₃ thin films and exploring defect control through synthesis.

You will join a multidisciplinary team integrating hydrothermal synthesis, device fabrication, and AI-guided optimization to close the loop between experiments and machine-learning models for next-step experiments.

Qualifications

• Strong academic background in physics, nanotechnology, materials science, electrical engineering or related field.
• Hands-on experience in solar-cell fabrication and emerging PV technologies is essential.
• Experience with hydrothermal thin-film synthesis or solar-cell device characterization is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize hydrothermal synthesis of Sb₂S₃ and Sb₂(S,Se)₃ thin films.
• Investigate relationships between synthesis, crystal structure, composition and defect formation.
• Fabricate and characterize thin-film solar cells to assess PV performance.
• Collaborate with DTU Compute to implement AI-guided experimental optimization.
• Participate in group teaching and supervise PhD/MSc/BSc student projects.
• Disseminate research results through publications and conferences.

Skills

Hydrothermal synthesis

Thin-film photovoltaics

Solar-cell device fabrication

AI/ML collaboration

Defect engineering

Education

PhD degree

Tools

Machine learning tools

Job description

Are you an ambitious researcher looking to advance your career at the forefront of sustainable solar energy technologies?

At DTU Electro, you will have the opportunity to break new ground by combining thin-film synthesis with artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of next-generation solar cells for indoor and tandem applications.

The Thin-Film Photovoltaics Group at DTU Electro is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to develop and optimize antimony-based chalcogenide thin films, including Sb₂S₃ and Sb₂(S,Se)₃. You will investigate how synthesis conditions influence defect formation and material properties, with the aim of improving solar-cell efficiency.

The position is funded by a Villum Synergy grant and is part of an interdisciplinary collaboration between DTU Electro and DTU Compute. You will contribute to a closed-loop framework in which your experimental results inform machine learning models that guide subsequent synthesis experiments, moving beyond conventional trial-and-error optimization.

Your focus will be on developing controlled thin-film synthesis methods and fabricating solar cells.

You will work closely with experimental and computational researchers to uncover relationships between synthesis conditions, material properties, and photovoltaic performance.

Your primary responsibilities include:

• Develop and optimize hydrothermal synthesis of Sb₂S₃ and Sb₂(S,Se)₃ thin films, systematically investigating precursor chemistry, additives, passivation, and post-deposition treatments.
• Investigate the relationships between synthesis conditions, crystal structure, composition, and defect formation, with particular emphasis on crystallographic orientation, bandgap tuning, and optoelectronic properties.
• Fabricate and characterize thin-film solar cells to evaluate how synthesis conditions and material properties influence photovoltaic performance.
• Collaborate with researchers at DTU Compute to implement AI-guided experimental optimization, providing structured experimental datasets and validating synthesis conditions proposed by machine learning models.
• Participate in group teaching activities
• Supervise and contribute to PhD and MSc/BSc student projects.
• Document and disseminate research results through scientific publications and international conference contributions.

You should have a strong academic background in physics, nanotechnology, materials science, electrical engineering, or a related field. Hands-on experience in solar-cell fabrication, particularly with emerging photovoltaic technologies such as halide perovskites or inorganic thin-film solar cells, is essential. Experience with hydrothermal thin-film synthesis or solar-cell device characterization would be an advantage.

As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation, and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. In addition, supplements can be negotiated in accordance with DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures.

The period of employment is 2 years. The starting date is 1 January 2027.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Stela Canulescu, email , or Evgeniia Gilshtein, email

You can read more about DTU Electro at www.electro.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

DTU ElectroDTU Electro employs more than 300 skilled researchers with competencies in electrical and photonics engineering. As a department, we strive towards creating sustainable energy and a greener internet, as well as strengthening cyber security and health technology. Working with industry and public organizations is one of our top priorities to find and implement new solutions to our society. We aim to offer education, research, and innovation of the highest standard, and our focus on application-oriented research enables us to work across many engineering disciplines and research areas, such as IT and the medical and health sciences. We have a close collaboration with researchers from all over the world, just as we collaborate with industry and public authorities about the dissemination of solutions based on electrical and photonics engineering as their key enabling technologies.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.