Bachelor theses / Master theses / Diploma theses

Tower power plants represent the latest generation of solar thermal power generation systems (see figure). Large-area mirror arrays concentrate sunlight onto a central absorber, where it is converted into thermal energy, which is then transferred to a heat transfer medium. Compared to photovoltaics, solar thermal energy has the inherent advantage of energy storage capacity and availability on demand. The challenge for further increasing the efficiency of solar power plants lies in developing materials with temperature stability up to 800 °C in air. Within the framework of graduate theses and research projects, thermally stable coatings for the core components of solar tower power plants will be developed and tested. State-of-the-art in-situ and ex-situ methods such as magnetron sputtering, ellipsometry, UV-vis-NIR-FTIR retroreflector, and Raman spectroscopy will be employed.
The following tasks are offered in this area:
i) Design and optical simulation of solar-selective coating stacks for solar power plants
ii) Deposition, optimization, and characterization of the structural, optical and electrical properties of individual components and whole coating stacks for solar power plants
iii) Ex situ and in situ investigations of the thermal stability of individual components and entire coating stacks for solar power plants
Other topics can be discussed individually.

1. University program in physics, chemistry, or materials science with good grades or better
2. Interest, enthusiasm, and ability for scientific work
3. Basic programming skills and proficiency in using office and scientific software
4. Fluent English language skills

This work is carried out in collaboration with national and international partners, payment includes the standard expense allowance