Funding type: COFUND Marie Slodowska Curie Action

This project is under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) program. There are no nationality conditions but the candidates must fulfill the MSCA mobility conditions, which means that she/he must not have stayed more than 1 year in France during the last 3 years immediately before the call deadline (31/05/2020).

Expected start date: 01/10/2020

Contacts:

Prof. Jean-Pierre CLOAREC, Ecole centrale de Lyon
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Dr. Sumeet WALIA, RMIT
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Websites:

• https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-locations-and-facilities/facilities/research-facilities/micronano-research-facility
• http://inl.cnrs.fr/en/

Collaborations/External partners : RMIT University Melbourne/Cotutelle Cofund ECLAUSion, RMIT

Background and scientific context :

With silicon electronics reaching its fundamental dimensional limits, alternative materials are required for the next generation of electronics. Furthermore, a wide range of fields stand to benefit from systems that are smaller in size whose performance can be enhanced simultaneously. Two-dimensional materials are a fascinating class of atomically thin materials that possess quantum confinement induced properties which can be harnessed for high-speed, low-dimensional energy-efficient devices and systems. This research project will explore a variety of two-dimensional material systems including elemental analogues of graphene and explore their deterministic positiong on structured substrates.

Keywords : 2D materials, deterministic positionning, photonics, nanoelectronics, surface functionalization

Objectives and scientific challenges:

2D materials will be obtained through various exfoliation and vapour deposition synthesis techniques. These layers will then be positioned on structured substrates by chemical attraction. To this aim, the substrate will be chemically functionnalised at specific site using orthogonal functionalisation. The 2D materials will be chemically modified to favor their deterministic anchoring on the substrate. A range of electronic and optoelectronic devices will be fabricated such as field effect transistors, photo-transistors, sensors, optically tunable systems and brain-mimicking optoelectronic devices. The fundamental properties of these devices will be investigated and systematically assessed.

The research program intends to design high mobility transistors, efficient sensing capabilities and a class of optoelectronic devices. This will involve fabricating two and three terminal devices based on two-dimensional materials and their deterministic positioning. The resulting devices will be thoroughly characterised their fundamental electronic, optical and compositional properties.

Expected original contributions:

Exploration of new 2D materials with tailored surface, electronic and/or optical properties. Possibility to embed such material into new systems.

Research program and proposed scientific approach:

RMIT would provide 2D material samples under various conditions(e.g. exfoliation methods, various thicknesses) and 2D substrates. INL will develop the surface modification of both the 2D substrate and 2D material for the deterministic positioning of the latter. Chemical functionnalisation would be characterized by XPS, PM-IRRAS, ToF-SIMS, Raman, PL, AFM, SEM. Eventually, DFT molecular modelling will be used in order to investigate their behavior.

The influence of surface functionalization and further molecular conjugation on optoelectronic properties of the materials will be studied.

Scientific framework:

• Description of the supervision committee :

• Le comité d’évaluation de l’HCERES ayant demandé à l’école doctorale de limiter la taille du comité d’encadrement à deux membres (directeur de thèse compris), il est impératif de ne proposer des comités d’encadrement de taille plus importante que si cela est absolument nécessaire et de le justifier soigneusement. [à compléter si plus de deux membres]
• Intégration au sein du (ou des) laboratoire(s) (Département/Equipe(s) impliquée(s)) (pourcentage du temps travail au sein de ce ou ces laboratoire(s)) : 67% INL, 33% RMIT

PhD funding : Co-Fund Marie Sladowska Curie Action (MSCA) ECL/RMIT (ECLAUsion program)

Profile of the candidate :

The research candidate would be expected to produce high quality research publications, actively participate in promoting their outcomes through the media (including social media), and develop strong research communication and commercialisation skills. The project will be highly multidisciplinary focusing on discoveries in materials science and device engineering at the convergence of electronics, optics, applied physics, and physical chemistry.

Objectives for the valorisation of the research work:

Publications in peer-review international journals (minimum 2), conferences (at least 1 in France and 1 abroad). No constraints of confidentiality except if the results could be patented.

Skills that will be developed during the PhD :

The PhD student will acquire skills in surface chemical functionalization, surface characterization (IR, XPS…), to write scientific publications. He/She will develop softskills in particular to work in an international environment, to lead a project. The candidate will have access to the University’s flagship research facilities – the state-of-the-art $30 million Micro Nano Research Facility for thin film processing and cleanroom-based fabrication. They will also have access to the RMIT Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility for materials characterisation. This will be complemented with extensive nanoelectronic device characterisation equipment. The candidate will also collaborate extensively within and outside of RMIT on a range of projects to ensure that their research benefits multiple areas.

Professionnal perspectives after PhD:

As the project is at the crossroads of electronic, photonic, material science and chemistry, the student will develop broad scientific skills allowing for application industry or academic positions.