Bachelor theses / Master theses / Diploma theses

Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) are essential components for many everyday applications and devices, such as displays, smart windows, area lighting, flexible electronics, and solar modules. The most commonly used TCO is tin-doped indium oxide (ITO). In order to reduce the demand for the critical raw material indium, zinc oxide-based TCOs often represent a good alternative. However, ZnO is not suitable for applications involving high temperatures or aggressive environments. Tin oxide, SnO2, which exhibits the best thermal and chemical stability among known TCOs, offers a better alternative for applications in concentrated solar power, perovskite solar cells, and as electrodes in high-power electronics.
The most important functional properties of TCOs are high transparency in the visible wavelength range and high electrical conductivity. Both are strongly dependent on point and structural defects in the materials. Interestingly, these defects in SnO₂ are still not sufficiently characterized and understood, and are therefore the subject of ongoing scientific research. To improve the knowledge base of tin oxide-based TCOs, Bachelor's, Master's, or Diploma thesis topics are - among others - offered on the following sub-aspects:
1.) Identification of point defects of undoped Sn oxide thin films and correlation with the electrical properties
2.) Optimization of the electrical and optical properties of doped Sn oxide thin films
3.) Correlation of growth conditions and structural properties of tin oxide thin films
State-of-the-art in-situ and ex-situ methods such as magnetron sputtering, ellipsometry, UV-vis-NIR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction will be employed.

• University enrollment in physics, chemistry, or materials science and good grades or better
• Interest, enthusiasm and ability for scientific work
• Basic programming skills and proficiency in using office and scientific software
• Fluent English language skills

• Payment includes the standard expense allowance