Internship | Advancing Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells through Innovative Passivation Strategies

TNO; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 6,200 - 7,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Laptop provided

615 EUR/month internship allowance

Travel expenses contribution

Leave entitlement: up to 8 hours per月

Jong TNO membership

Job summary

TNO offers an internship focusing on passivation strategies to improve perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. You will fabricate, characterize, and analyze devices, working with leading researchers in a dynamic, international team.

The role requires studying physics/chemistry/materials science or EE, and being enrolled at a university or HBO during the internship, with a duration of at least 3 months and potential for extension.

Qualifications

• Be enthusiastic and eager to learn about photovoltaics and energy transition.
• Enjoy experimental work and problem-solving.
• Have good communication skills and work well both independently and in a team.
• Be studying (applied) physics, chemistry, materials science or electrical engineering.
• Be enrolled at a university or HBO institution during your internship (a must for eligibility).

Responsibilities

• Fabricating and characterizing perovskite-based tandem solar cells.
• Designing and running experiments to test and improve device performance.
• Collaborating with leading scientists and engineers in an international, high-tech environment.

Skills

Enthusiasm to learn

Experimental work

Communication skills

STEM student (applied physics/chem/ma​

Education

Enrolled at university or HBO during internship

Job description

About this position

Perovskite solar cells are at the forefront of next-generation solar technology. Their high efficiencies make them ideal for tandem solar cells, combining perovskites with silicon to generate more clean energy from the same surface area. At TNO, you’ll help tackle one of the key challenges in this field: stability. In this internship, you will investigate different passivation strategies to improve the performance and lifetime of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. Working alongside leading researchers, you will fabricate, characterize, and analyze solar cells, contributing directly to the development of more durable and commercially viable solar technologies. Your work will contribute to making high-efficiency tandem solar cells more reliable and ready for real-world deployment.

What will be your role?

As an intern, you’ll become an essential part of our innovation team. Your main mission: Implement and evaluate different passivation materials to improve high-efficiency perovskite tandem solar cells.

• Fabricating and characterizing perovskite-based tandem solar cells
• Designing and running experiments to test and improve device performance
• Collaborating with leading scientists and engineers in an international, high-tech environment

The internship duration is at least 3 months, with longer periods possible depending on project requirements and the candidate’s preference. Depending on your program of study, the project can be combined with a HBO-graduation assignment or a master’s thesis.

What we expect from you

We expect you to:

• Be enthusiastic and eager to learn about photovoltaics and energy transition
• Enjoy experimental work and problem-solving
• Have good communication skills and work well both independently and in a team
• Be studying (applied) physics, chemistry, materials science or electrical engineering
• Be enrolled at a university or HBO institution during your internship (a must for eligibility)

What you'll get in return

An internship at TNO means working in an environment where substance and impact are central. You will become part of a knowledge organisation where research and practice come together, and where experts collaborate on solutions to current societal and technological challenges. Your internship is a period in which you can discover what suits you, where your strengths lie and what you would like to learn next. You are part of a professional working environment, gain insight into how things work in practice, and have the opportunity to build experience that goes beyond this internship alone. For many students, an internship is therefore also a first step in discovering whether TNO could be a potential next step after graduation.

• A professional and innovative internship environment in which you actively contribute to societal and technological challenges, working alongside leading experts in your field
• Personal and dedicated supervision, with focus on your learning objectives, development and study assignment
• Room to develop: you gain relevant work experience, develop both your subject-specific and professional skills, and build a valuable network
• Use of a laptop and the facilities you need to perform your work effectively
• A monthly internship allowance of € 615 for a full‑time internship, for MSc, BSc and vocational education (MBO) students
• Up to eight hours of leave per internship month for a full‑time internship, allowing you to balance your internship with your studies and personal life
• A contribution towards travel expenses if you are not entitled to a student travel card
• A free membership to Jong TNO: the network for young colleagues, where you can meet other TNO colleagues and participate in sports activities, professional and personal development activities, and social events such as the annual ski trip

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity. That is why we invest in an inspiring and inclusive working environment where colleagues can excel, have autonomy and continue to grow. Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results. At TNO, we believe this is our time to help society, government and business move forward faster. Together with driven colleagues, you turn knowledge into concrete innovations or ventures that truly make a difference by combining the power of science and entrepreneurship. And in doing so, you make your mark on our time.

The selection process

You can apply for this internship position until the 16th of October 2026. After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email. TNO will arrange an appropriate internship agreement. If you have any questions about the content of the internship or the application procedure, you can contact the person listed below. If you start an internship with us, we will also ask you to provide a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).

Important to know before applying:

Before the start of the internship, an internship agreement must be signed. For students enrolled at a Dutch university or university of applied sciences, TNO uses the UNL-template, supplemented with several TNO‑specific agreements. For students from foreign educational institutions and MBO (secondary vocational education) programmes, the TNO internship agreement applies. TNO does not sign any other internship agreements. Before the start of the internship, the educational institution will need to confirm in writing that: you are enrolled at the educational institution for the duration of the internship, and; the internship forms part of your study programme. The confirmation of educational institution takes place by signing the UNL template or forms prepared by TNO. Interns at TNO must have a registered residential address in the Netherlands at the start of the internship. Carrying out internship activities from abroad is not possible.

Are you an international student? Please note that you must have a BSN (Dutch citizen service number) before the start of your internship. Applying for a BSN can take several weeks, so make sure to start this process well in advance.