Laboratory for Interface Science: Printable Electronic Materials
Goals
The Laboratory for Interface Science: Printable Electronic Materials group in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at The University of Arizona is seeking to establish a VIP undergraduate team in printable electronics. We have several ongoing areas of research into next-generation renewable energy devices and fundamental understanding. Examples include:
- Improving efficiency and stability of metal halide perovskite solar cells
- Next-generation energy storage systems (batteries and/or fuels from sunlight) using conductive polymers
- Transport properties in mixed electrical and ionic conductors
We are looking for enthusiastic and engaged undergraduate students with various backgrounds to work on short-term and long-term collaborative projects related to the research and development of novel renewable energy technologies.
We have a large team of graduate students, postdocs, and research scientists that students can shadow to learn early experiments before working on individual or small team projects. In general, students can experience hands-on, in laboratory fabrication of semiconductor thin films, with complementary characterizations using a variety of different capabilities. We have an established boot camp program to teach students the basics early on. The students will become part of a multidisciplinary team mentored by both a faculty and research scientist mentor but will also open opportunities for collaborations and interactions with other renowned researchers within academia and national laboratories. Outlining the projects will happen with input from the student, so that the student’s interests and career development plans are considered.
Issues Involved or Addressed
More information about Dr. Ratcliff's work: Advancing Solar Science
Methods and Tech
- Laboratory fabrication of semiconductor thin films with complementary characterizations using a variety of different capabilities
- Printable electronics
- Optoelectronics
- Automatization
- (Electro)chemical analysis
- Building instrumentation
- Machine learning
Academic Majors of Interest
Suitable candidates should have expertise or interests within the following fields:
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Optics
- Engineering
Preferred Interests and Preparation
We are also looking for mathematically-minded students interested in the use of finite element simulations to help us better understand how our materials perform using our COSMOL modules.
Likewise, discussing and publishing science is a critical part of what we do, so we are looking for people interested in communication, graphical design, and/or promoting our activities to the broader community. For students interested in instrument design, students can have the opportunity to interface both hardware and software to complete small to complex tasks, such as robotics for printing or building high-throughput spectroscopy capabilities.
Application Process
Interested students should apply using the VIP application.