PhD Studentship: Molecular Imaging of Conjugated Copolymers for Stable Organic Photovoltaics

University of Birmingham - School of Chemistry

A fully funded 3.5 years PhD position in the field of experimental nanoscience at surfaces and molecular imaging of conjugated polymers is available in the group of Prof. Giovanni Costantini at UoB.

About the research: Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are emerging as a lightweight, flexible, and sustainable alternative to traditional silicon-based solar panels. They hold promise for applications ranging from building-integrated photovoltaics to solar-powered greenhouses and aerospace technologies. However, despite significant progress, OPVs still face limitations in long-term operational stability, largely due to the intrinsic instability of their active materials. A new class of materials, conjugated block copolymers combining electron donor and acceptor units along the same backbone, has been proposed to overcome this issue. Yet, a detailed understanding of the molecular-scale arrangement and interactions between donor and acceptor segments remains elusive. Gaining such insight is essential to unlock the full potential of these materials and to enable rational design strategies for the next generation of efficient and stable OPVs.

About the project: The Costantini Lab has recently demonstrated that by combining electrospray deposition (ESD) with scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) it is possible to deposit intact conjugated polymers in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and to acquire unprecedented sub-molecular resolved images. This breakthrough started a transformative new approach for the characterisation of conjugated polymers leading, for the first-time, to a molecular-scale characterisation of these functional macromolecules (e.g. Sci. Adv., 2018; Adv. Mater., 2020; JACS, 2021; ACS Nano, 2022; Adv. Funct. Mater., 2023; PNAS, 2024). The ESD-STM methodology will be applied to investigate the nanoscale morphology and molecular arrangement of donor–acceptor conjugated block copolymers relevant to organic photovoltaics, including PM6, Y6 and their covalently linked variants. By imaging and analysing their microstructure and local electronic properties with sub-molecular precision, the project aims to establish direct structure–function correlations and uncover the mechanisms that govern stability and charge transport. The acquired insights will guide materials design through collaboration with synthetic partners, enabling a feedback loop that connects molecular architecture to device performance.

What we offer: The successful candidate will have access to a unique ESD-STM equipment to perform world-leading research. They will learn how to operate state-of-the-art sophisticated experimental setups working closely with senior researchers and experts in the field. They will be fully embedded into the highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment of the Costantini Lab. Their work will be firmly rooted in experimental nanoscience at surfaces but will ultimately be directly applied in the design of greener and more functional advanced electronic materials. The project will be in collaboration with world-leading synthetic groups at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Hasselt University, Chemnitz University of Technology, Princeton University and Georgia Tech.

Who we are looking for: Motivated students are welcome from diverse backgrounds, including physics, chemistry, engineering and material science. We are particularly interested in applicants with a strong preference for hands-on experimental work and a willingness to operate and troubleshoot complex instrumentation involving mechanical, electronic and vacuum systems.

References: Warr et al., Sci. Adv. 4, eaas9543 (2018); Xiao et al., Adv. Mater. 32, 2000063 (2020); Hallani et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 11007 (2021); Moro et al., ACS Nano 16, 21303 (2022); Vanderspikken et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 2309403 (2023); Coker et al., PNAS 121, e2403879121 (2024).