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Bachelor/Master projects
Are you interested in our research? That makes us happy! Whether you prefer to produce solar cells yourself, tinker with measurement setups or simulate physical processes, we are sure to find the right thing for you. Please contact us for possible topics for bachelor's, master's or state examination theses.
Possible Bachelor/Master Projects:
Fast Photoluminescence Voltage Measurement to Characterize Mobile Ions in Perovskite Solar Cells (bachelor or master thesis)
Picture: Dr. Lukas Wagner Project description
Perovskite solar cells are a highly promising technology for the next generation of solar cells. Due to their ionic crystal bonding character, metal halide perovskites differ from conventional , covalent bound solar cell materials like silicon or III-V semiconductors. As a result, mobile ions in perovskite solar cells lead to time-variant behavior like hysteresis, i.e. the solar cell “remembers” it’s pre-conditioning state. Ion migration can lead to performance loss and degradation. It is therefore of key importance to understand ion migration in these devices.
The goal of this research project is to develop measurement tools to analyze and understand the ionic nature of perovskite solar cells. Therefore, you will develop a “fast PL” measurement setup This tool enables to carry out photoluminescence (PL)-voltage (PL-V) scans whereby the scan speed is varied between 0.1 and 1,000 V/s. This will be carried out with the help of an optical setup to measure PL intensity via a photomultiplier tube, a function generator, and a digital oscilloscope. Additionally, a buffer amplifier needs to be added and shielding against electrical noise needs to be implemented.
Aim
You will set up a system for fast PL scans under simulated solar light. You will set the system in operation with perovskite cells variations. You will then use this method to assess performance losses and degradation mechanisms, using our maximum power point tracker based solar cell ageing station.
If you are perusing the project in the scope of a master thesis, you will also manufacture the perovskite solar cells yourself.
Skills acquired
In this project, you can learn to set up an opto-electrical measurement system comprising of photomultiplier tube, function generators, oscilloscopes, amplifiers, and high-frequency shielding practices. You will get hands on experience with a wide range of complementary opto-electric characterization techniques, starting from current-voltage measurements and extending to advanced techniques such as photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield, PL imaging, time resolved PL etc.
In the scope of a master thesis, you will learn to fabricate, characterize and age your own perovskite solar cells.
Moreover, you will acquire a profound understanding of ion migration and charge carrier dynamics in perovskite semiconductors.
Further reading
(The Literature does not exactly discuss the measurement tool but gives an introduction into the topic)
“Ion-induced field screening as a dominant factor in perovskite solar cell operational stability”. Thiesbrummel et al. Nature Energy (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01487-w
“Intensity-Modulated Photoluminescence Spectroscopy for Revealing Ionic Processes in Halide Perovskites”, Gillespie et al. ACS Energy Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.5c01102
Contact person: Dr. Lukas Wagner
Development of an in-situ Photoluminescence Imaging System (bachelor thesis)
Picture: Dr. Lukas Wagner Project Description
Photoluminescence (PL) imaging is a powerful and contactless technique characterize perovskite semiconductor films. It enables spatially resolved visualization of defects, thickness variations, and crystallization quality—parameters that are essential for optimizing high-performance perovskite solar cells. However, commercial PL imaging systems are typically very expensive, bulky, and often unsuited for integration into gloveboxes where perovskite films are fabricated.
This project aims to develop a compact, low-cost PL imaging platform based on a Raspberry Pi NoIR camera sensor. The system will be tailored for in-situ, real-time monitoring of film formation during perovskite deposition with a spin coating robot. To achieve this, you will design an excitation and detection module, evaluate sensor performance, and implement an image-processing workflow that enables quantitative PL mapping inside a glovebox environment.
Aim
-Characterize the spectral sensitivity and quantum efficiency of the Raspberry Pi NoIR sensor for PL detection.
-Design and build an optical system using LED excitation sources and high-performance bandpass filters.
-Integrate the imaging system into a glovebox on a spin coating robot for in-situ monitoring during perovskite film fabrication.
-Develop a software pipeline for real-time visualization and analysis of PL intensity and crystallization dynamics.
Skills Acquired
-Experience in designing and assembling optical and electrical measurement systems including optical excitation modules, optical filters, camera-based detectors, and their calibration.
-Practical skills in PL imaging and semiconductor thin-film characterization, with a focus on perovskite materials.
-Programming experience in image acquisition, signal processing, and real-time data visualization (e.g., Python).
-Understanding of crystallization processes, defect formation, and structure–property relationships in metal halide perovskite semiconductors.
-Hands-on laboratory experience working with glovebox-integrated measurement setups.Further reading:
(The Literature does not exactly discuss the measurement tool but gives an introduction into the topic)
“Revealing fundamentals of charge extraction in photovoltaic devices through potentiostatic photoluminescence imaging”. L. Wagner et al. Matter (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2022.05.024
Contact person: Dr. Lukas Wagner
Fabrication of Tandem Solar Cells (master thesis)
Picture: Gülüsüm Babayeva Project Description
This thesis focuses on optimizing a narrow-bandgap (NBG) perovskite solar cell and integrating it into a tandem device. Using an existing absorber as a starting point, you will improve optical and electrical performance through interface engineering and buffer layer development.
The goal is to establish a reliable fabrication method for high-efficiency tandem perovskite solar cells and contribute to next-generation photovoltaic solutions.
Main Tasks
-Fabrication of tandem solar cells
-Optimization of the NBG bottom cell
-Interface engineering and buffer layer design
-Integration of optimized layers into tandem stacks
-Optical & electronic characterization: JV, UV-Vis, PL, EQE…
Methods & Tools
-Spin coating, Spinbot
-Sputtering, thermal evaporation, ALD (Atomic layer deposition)
-Glovebox processing and thin-film deposition
-Standard solar cell characterization techniques
Preferred Background
-Chemistry, physics, materials science or related fields
-Experience with glovebox work and thin-film processing is helpful
-Motivation to work in a collaborative research team
Contact person: Gülüsüm Babayeva
Development and Optimization of Carbon-Laminated Perovskite Solar Cells for Enhanced Efficiency and Stability (bachelor or master thesis)
Project Description
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have considerable potential owing to their high power-conversion efficiencies, cost-effective processing, and compatibility with low-temperature, solution-based fabrication. However, their commercial viability remains limited by environmental and operational stability issues as well as challenges associated with large-area manufacturing.
Carbon-based bottom electrodes, has emerged as a compelling route to address these limitations. Unlike gold (Au) or silver (Ag) electrodes—which are expensive, require vacuum-based deposition, and can chemically interact with halide species in the perovskite—carbon electrodes offer intrinsic chemical inertness, significantly lower material cost, and compatibility with scalable techniques such as printing and lamination. These advantages position carbon electrodes as strong candidates for improving both the stability and the manufacturability of perovskite solar cells.
Project Aim
This project aims to develop and optimize carbon-laminated PSC architectures that enhance device efficiency and stability while enabling manufacturing routes appropriate for scalable module production.
Key Objectives
Develop Lamination Techniques
-Create lamination protocols compatible with perovskite layers and transport layers.
-Optimize temperature, pressure, lamination duration, and pre-/post-treatments.
-Characterize electrical conductivity, work function, and surface/interface properties.
Fabricate Carbon-Laminated PSCs
-Fabricate complete devices using laminated carbon electrodes.
-Evaluate JV parameters, i.e., current density, open circuit voltage, fill factor, series resistance, and reproducibility.
Interface Engineering
-Modify the interfaces between perovskite and carbon electrode to improve the performance of the solar cells.
What Students Will Gain
By the end of this project, students will have developed a comprehensive skill set in the fabrication and analysis of advanced photovoltaic devices. They will gain hands-on experience with perovskite solar cells processing, carbon lamination technique, and the optimization of device interfaces. Through systematic experimentation and characterization—including JV measurements, optical and structural analysis, and surface/interface evaluation—students will learn how to correlate material properties with device performance and stability. They will also strengthen their ability to troubleshoot fabrication challenges, design experiments, and interpret the results. Overall, participants will acquire practical laboratory competence, a deeper understanding of perovskite photovoltaics, and valuable research skills applicable to both academic and industrial careers in renewable energy and materials science.
Target Audience
This project is well-suited for Master’s students from physics, chemistry, or related fields. We seek highly motivated candidates with prior laboratory experience who are comfortable working independently on experimental tasks. A strong interest in renewable energy and hands-on device fabrication is essential, while experience with vacuum systems or thin-film deposition techniques (such as spin-coating, sputtering, or evaporation) is advantageous.
Contact Person: Ali Reza Nazari Pour
Optical Characterization and Simulation of Layers in Perovskite Solar Cells (bachelor thesis)
Project description
The aim of this work is to fully characterize the optical properties of the individual layers in perovskite solar cells. To this end, spectroscopic ellipsometry, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy are used to determine important parameters such as layer thickness, refractive index of the layers, and absorption properties (extinction coefficient). Optical models describing the complex refractive index are then fitted to the experimental data.
This is followed by simulation of the entire solar cell. The transfer matrix method is used to model absorption, reflection, and transmission in the solar cell stack. Other simulation methods could be used to investigate further optical effects in more detail. The simulation results are then compared with experimental data to verify the agreement and, if necessary, identify opportunities for improvement in the simulation model.
Aim
The aim of the project is to gain a deeper understanding of the optical processes in perovskite solar cells by combining experimental and simulated data and to be able to predict optical improvements using simulations, thereby contributing to improving the efficiency of perovskite solar cells.
Contact person: Aaron Schüller-Ruhl
Formation Mechanism of Low-dimensional Perovskite Structures on 3D Perovskite Films (bachelor thesis or advanced internship in the field of physics/chemistry)
Project description
Within a 6-10 week work phase, the formation mechanism of low-dimensional perovskite structures (LDPs) that arise on three-dimensional (3D) perovskite films will be investigated. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the formation, structure, and properties of LDPs, which are of great importance for the passivation of surfaces in perovskite solar cells.
The work involves the production of thin perovskite films using established wet chemical processes in glove boxes. The samples are then characterized using various spectroscopic and microscopic methods. The focus is on spectroscopic and spatially resolved photoluminescence, supplemented by other analytical techniques such as UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Depending on the progress of the project, there is also the possibility of manufacturing complete perovskite solar cells and investigating the effect of LDPs in solar cells by means of current-voltage measurements.
Requirements:
We are looking for a motivated student with an interest in experimental laboratory work and physical-chemical issues. You should enjoy practical activities, be interested in chemical processes, and have a certain tolerance for frustration.
Contact person: Malwine Lühder
Electro-Optical Simulation of Perovskite Solar Cells (SETFOS) (master thesis)
Project Description
This project focuses on modelling single-junction and monolithic tandem perovskite solar cells using SETFOS. The work includes simulating light absorption, emission, scattering and optical losses while accounting for roughness, crystallinity and parasitic absorption in the different layers. On the electrical side, you will model electron, hole and ion transport to reproduce JV curves, EQE, recombination pathways, ion migration and hysteresis. Targeted characterisation experiments, such as thickness variations and interlayer engineering, will be carried out to validate and refine the developed models.
Main Tasks
You will develop and test optoelectronic models in SETFOS, implement and optimise material parameters, simulate complete device stacks and compare the simulation results with experimental data to improve the physical accuracy of the models.
Learning Outcomes
By completing this thesis, you will gain a solid understanding of the optical and electrical processes governing perovskite solar cells, practical experience with drift–diffusion and transfer-matrix simulations, and the ability to link modelling with experimental observations for device optimisation. You will also strengthen your scientific communication skills through regular discussion and presentation of your results within the team.
Target Group / Requirements
This project is aimed at Master students in physics who have prior knowledge of semiconductor and perovskite solar cell physics, basic programming and computational skills, and an interest in combining theoretical modelling with experiments. Independent and reliable working habits are expected.
Contact person: Christopher Janas
Sustainable Solar Cells (bachelor or master thesis)
Project description
In view of the global climate crisis and the exceeding of planetary boundaries, the expansion of renewable energies, especially solar energy, is essential. Perovskite tandem solar cells promise significantly higher efficiencies than the currently dominant silicon technology. Given the necessary installation of 2-5 TWp per year and the correspondingly high consumption of resources, sustainability requirements arise that must be taken into account in the energy transition. Today's research landscape for perovskite solar cells seems to pay little attention to sustainability aspects in terms of action and design. Instead, high-efficiency solar cells are usually only tested for sustainability in life cycle analyses after they have been designed. Certain aspects are only considered in very isolated cases, in particular aspects of social sustainability. However, in order to be considered sustainable, a technology must meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the livelihoods of future generations. The aim of this project is to combine technical development and sustainability and put them into practice.
Possible areas of responsibility
· Holistic sustainability assessments along the four life cycle phases of a perovskite solar cell: raw material extraction, manufacturing processes, operational phase, and end-of-life/recycling
· Identification and selection of more sustainable materials for the individual layers of perovskite solar cells
· Experimental production of perovskite solar cells, including thin-film deposition and process optimization
Skills to be acquired
As part of this project, participants will develop:
· A comprehensive understanding of the interrelationships between technology development and sustainability
· Knowledge of various methods of sustainability assessment (e.g., LCA, material criticality analyses, social sustainability indicators)
· Skills in the selection and evaluation of materials for sustainable photovoltaics
· Practical laboratory experience with manufacturing and characterization methods
Target group
The project is aimed at bachelor's and master's students of physics who are interested in sustainable technology development, materials science, and experimental laboratory work.
Contact person: Lea Obermüller
Optimization of Automated Perovskite Thin Film Deposition and Crystallization using a Spin-Coating Robot (bachelor thesis)
Photo: Dr. Lukas Wagner Project Description
Solar cells based on metal halide perovskites are a hot research topics. In most laboratories, the solar cells are processed by hand with thin films deposition processes such as spin coating. However, the optoelectronic quality of perovskite thin films—quantified through photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY)—is highly sensitive to processing conditions during film deposition and slightest variation on manual deposition procedures: Small variations in timing, acceleration, and solution dispensing can significantly alter defect density and charge‑carrier recombination characteristics.
In this project, a commercial laboratory spin‑coating robot will be used. This robot can automatically place the samples on the spin coater, deposit the precursor liquid, spin, and then place the sample on a hotplate for annealing. This allows you to systematically vary deposition parameters and quantify their impact on PLQY and the spatial homogeneity of the optoelectronic properties of perovskite thin films.
Aim
· Program the robotic spin‑coating system to execute controlled variations in deposition parameters.
· Design experimental campaigns and run automated fabrication of perovskite monolayers and multilayer stacks
· Characterize optoelectronic quality using photoluminescence (PL) imaging and UV‑Vis spectroscopy
· Correlate robotic deposition parameters with PLQY, defect density, and film homogeneity.
Skills Acquired
· Chemical preparation of precursor solutions: weighing, dissolving, and handling of perovskite precursor materials.
· Robotics & automation: programming and optimization of laboratory spin‑coating robots.
· Thin‑film processing: spin‑coating, antisolvent techniques, and perovskite fabrication.
· Optoelectronic characterization: PL imaging, UV‑Vis spectroscopy
· Semiconductor physics: PLQY, defect recombination, and interfacial charge extraction.
· Data analysis: correlating process parameters with optoelectronic quality.
· Scientific methodology: design of experiments and systematic parameter variation.
Further reading:
· Optimizing Perovskite Thin-Film Parameter Spaces with Machine Learning-Guided Robotic Platform for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells”, Zhang et al. Adv. En. Mat. (2023). DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202370193
· Repeatable Perovskite Solar Cells through Fully Automated Spin-Coating and Quenching”. Baumann et al, ACS Appl :at. Inter. (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c13024
· www.sciprios.de
Contact person: Dr. Lukas Wagner