23 Jan 2024
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
Aix Marseille Université- Department
IM2NP- Research Field
Physics » Solid state physics- Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)- Country
France- Application Deadline
31 Mar 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris)- Type of Contract
Temporary- Job Status
Full-time- Hours Per Week
36- Offer Starting Date
1 Oct 2024- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by an EU programme- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
The MNO group of IM2NP at Aix-Marseille University offers a PhD thesis focusing on the antiferroelectric/ferroelectric phase transition in PbZrO3 thin films studied by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction methods and transmission electron microscopy. Antiferroelectrics are electronic materials actively studied for their potential applications in high energy storage capacitors, high-strain transducers and actuators, and electrocaloric devices [1]. Electric-field-induced phase transitions to ferroelectrics are the most important characteristics of antiferroelectric materials, providing them with rich functional properties. In particular, it can give rise to a negative capacitance effect in capacitor devices, that coupled to a transistor allows for a reduction of its operating voltage and energy consumption. However, in several prototype antiferroelectric materials, these transitions are irreversible and the origin of this behavior is poorly understood. In addition, the phase transition in antiferroelectric materials is highly sensible to environmental parameters such as strain, electrical boundary conditions, and interface effects. With the reduction in size of devices, these parameters become dominant over bulk considerations and very few studies address this issue, as the antiferroelectric state becomes difficult to stabilize in ultrathin films.
Up to now, this antiferroelectric/ferroelectric transition has mainly been investigated at the macroscopic scale, without any structural information [2]. In addition, information on the local properties is missing. The development of miniaturized electronic devices requires comprehensive understanding of the functional behaviour at the nanoscale.X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy give direct access to the structure-property relationship. Thanks to recent advances at synchrotron sources, local characterizations on the nanometer scale are possible.
The proposed PhD thesis focuses on the in situ investigation of the electric-field-driven antiferroelectric/ferroelectric phase transition and its propagation in epitaxial antiferroelectric PbZrO3 thin films integrated in capacitor geometry to help design novel energy storage devices and high-strain transducers. Unique in situ imaging techniques with nanoscale resolution will be employed: (i) in situ X-ray diffraction and (ii) operando scanning X-ray diffraction microscopy during electrical actuation at 3rd and 4th generation synchrotrons (ESRF, SOLEIL, …) and (iii) in situ electrical actuation during TEM imaging using a novel TEM sample holder in an aberration corrected FEI TITAN.
[1] C. A. Randall, Z. Fan, I. Reaney, L.-Q. Chen, S. Trollier-McKinstry, J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 104, 3775 (2021).
[2] K. Nadaud, C. Borderon, R. Renoud et al., Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 914, 165340 (2022).
Requirements
- Research Field
- Physics » Solid state physics
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
- Research Field
- Physics » Condensed matter properties
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
The candidate should hold a Master degree in physics, materials science, or another closely related field. He/she should have a profound knowledge in solid state physics. A high sense of organization and autonomy is required, as well as good communication skills in English. A good knowledge in programming, in particular using python, is appreciable.
Specific Requirements
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Excellent
Additional Information
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Aix-Marseille University
- Country
- France
- City
- Marseille
- Postal Code
- 13013
- Street
- Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen
- Geofield
Where to apply
[email protected]
Contact
- City
Marseille- Website
http://www.im2np.fr/index.html- Street
Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen- Postal Code
13013
STATUS: EXPIRED