PhD Thesis (M/F) on "Dislocations in layered carbon nanomaterials"

3 May 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

CNRS

Department

Institut des matériaux de Nantes Jean Rouxel

Research Field

Physics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

23 May 2024 - 23:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

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 Location: The PhD is at the Institute of Materials de Nantes Jean Rouxel (IMN - https://www.cnrs-imn.fr ), in the Physics of Materials and Nanostructures group. The IMN is one of France's primary materials research laboratories, run by the CNRS national research organisation at Nantes University. It has a strong international reputation in applied materials modelling and nanocarbon materials. Nantes is a lively and active city, on the edge of Brittany, western France (2h train from Paris)

Defects dominate the behaviour of layered materials such as graphite, BN and MoS2, but research to date has focused on 0D point defects like vacancies; 1D dislocations have been largely overlooked, despite being common and observed in all layered materials1. Dislocation theory has been developed for 3D crystalline solids since the 1950s, and is responsible for key materials behaviour such as plastic deformation, mechanical strengthening, impurity migration and aggregation, optoelectronic processes, and crystal growth. Conventional theory does not take into account the anisotropy and new physics possible in 2D-layered materials. Dislocated layered materials are *fundamentally different* compared to their non-dislocated equivalent. For example, screw dislocations turn a stack of separate layers into a continuous spiral surface, and dominate graphite formation processes.

The Project: This atomic-scale modelling PhD will explore the structure, formation and behaviour of screw and edge dislocations in layered materials, focussing initially on graphite, but extending to BN and other layered materials if time permits. We will explore their spectroscopic signatures, intercalation behaviour (critical for battery electrodes), and potential key role in superlubrication. We will use a range of modelling techniques such as density functional theory, xTB, and potentially machine learning approaches. The project will involve close collaboration with project partners in Lyon, Bordeaux, the UK, Spain and Australia, with the potential for experimental work in spectroscopic characterisation of relevant samples.
This PhD is funded by the CNRS as part of the ANR program.

Requirements

Research Field

Physics

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

FRENCH

Level

Basic

Research Field

Physics

Years of Research Experience

None

Additional Information
Additional comments

The covering letter must detail your interest in this specific post (generic applications will not be treated)

Website for additional job details

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/Doctorant/UMR6502-CHREWE-002/Default.aspx

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Institut des matériaux de Nantes Jean Rouxel

Country

France

City

NANTES

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/UMR6502-CHREWE-002/Candidater.aspx

Contact

City

NANTES

Website

http://www.cnrs-imn.fr

STATUS: EXPIRED