Job description A new modern direction in photovoltaics is building-integration, where functional components become an intrinsic part of the construction materials.
Typically, a “Building Integrated Photovoltaics” system (BIPV) consists of integrated PV modules into the building envelope, such as the roof or the facade.
This concept can be also extended to windows.
Although the inherent window transparency should be maintained, even a partial conversion of the sunlight to electrical energy can generate sizeable power quantities where large surface areas are involved.
In this project luminescent solar concentrators (“Quantum Dot Glass”) based on nanocomposite films, laminated on glass, will be investigated for this purpose.
Silicon quantum dots, metal nanocrlusters, transition metal-doped nanoparticles, silicon nanospheres, etc. will be considered as fluorophores and off-stoichiometry thiol-enes as a primary host polymer.
The work will consist of nanoparticle synthesis, their surface functionalization, preparation of a polymer/nanoparticle hybrid material, device assembly and its characterization.
Nano-characterization and optical measurement facilities in our Albano Laboratory will be extensively used to study synthesized materials and devices.
The work is a part of a European project with academia and industry on smart windows, and a close following on deadlines for milestones and deliverables is important.
Qualifications