Quantitative multispectral plasmonic imaging applied to photovoltaic cells

You will join a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary environment at the XLIM Institute, bridging two major research poles: ELITE (Printed Electronics for Telecom and Energy) and PhoCaL/Biophotonics (Coherent Photonics and Advanced Imaging). The project is a direct collaboration between Sylvain Vedraine (ELITE), a specialist in perovskite solar cells and plasmonic transparent electrodes (like the silver nanowires you will fabricate), and Pierre Bon (PhoCaL/Biophotonics), an expert in quantitative multispectral optical microscopy. This synergy is key: ELITE provides the cutting-edge devices and materials, while PhoCaL provides the advanced sub-micron metrology needed to characterize the crucial electrical and thermal fields in situ. By working across these teams, you will leverage state-of-the-art fabrication facilities (like the PLATINOM platform) and pioneering optical setups, placing you at the forefront of co-designing the next generation of efficient plasmonic solar technologies.

This internship focuses on next-generation plasmonic photovoltaic (PV) cells using silver nanowires. Plasmonic particles enhance light-to-electron conversion by exalting the electric field within the active layer. However, these nanowires also introduce thermal effects and must function as electrodes, requiring precise, in situ, and quantitative characterization. The project aims to use advanced quantitative multispectral optical microscopy developed at XLIM to understand the sub-micron scale electric and thermal fields. The intern will manage the entire chain, from PV cell fabrication to imaging and data analysis, with the goal of developing a future PhD project and a first co-design platform for plasmonic solar materials.

The main objective is to validate the concept of an "active electrode" by confirming the presence of enhanced electric fields and ensuring that detrimental thermal fields are not exacerbated near the silver nanowires. Quantitatively, the goal is to move beyond macroscopic measurements to achieve a sub-micron understanding of the plasmonic and thermal phenomenology within the solar cell's active layer. This will leverage XLIM's cutting-edge quantitative multispectral optical microscopy capabilities. Ultimately, the stage aims to prepare the groundwork for a PhD thesis focused on establishing the first platform for co-designing and analyzing future plasmonic solar materials.