Missions

The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for:
• MBE growth of functional oxides on substrates and nanostructures for photoelectrocatalysis.
• Studying degradation mechanisms and optimizing interfaces to improve device stability and efficiency.
• Contributing to scientific publications and dissemination of results.

Activités

The development of renewable energy sources is a major challenge to address current energy and environmental issues. Green hydrogen, produced by photoelectrochemical water splitting, represents a promising alternative to fossil fuels [1, 2]. However, to optimize this technology, it is essential to improve the efficiency and durability of photoelectrodes used for solar energy conversion into hydrogen.

The goal of this project is to design and fabricate photoelectrodes based on semiconductor materials and functional oxides grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Silicon, with its 1.1 eV bandgap, is an attractive material for solar energy conversion. However, its natural passivation by a thin silica layer degrades the performance of photoelectrodes. To overcome this issue, we are developing passivation layers using MBE-grown perovskite-structured oxides such as SrTiO3 [3], which offer visible transparency, resistance to photocorrosion, and efficient charge transport.

We will specifically explore interface quality and band alignments to enhance charge transport, with the aim of improving the lifetime and efficiency of photoelectrodes.

[1]: L. Ji et al. A silicon-based photocathode for water reduction with an epitaxial SrTiO3 protection layer and a nanostructured catalyst. Nature Nanotechnology 84, 10 (2015).
[2]: T. Dursap et al. Enhanced Light Trapping in GaAs/TiO2-Based Photocathodes for Hydrogen Production. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 15, 46 (2023).
[3]: G. Saint-Girons et al. Epitaxy of SrTiO3 on silicon: the knitting machine strategy, Chemistry of Materials 28, 5347 (2016).

Compétences

The candidate must hold a Ph.D. in physics, materials science, nanotechnology, or a related field. Expertise in the following areas will be particularly valued:
• Experience in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) or functional oxide growth.
• Skills in nanomaterial and surface characterization.
• Knowledge of photoelectrochemistry and/or solar catalysis.
• Ability to work in a team and interact with researchers from various disciplines.
• Excellent communication and scientific writing skills in English.

Contexte de travail

The Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon (INL) aims to develop multidisciplinary technological research in the field of micro and nanotechnologies and their applications. The research carried out ranges from materials to systems. The laboratory is supported by Lyon's NanoLyon technology platform.
The areas of application cover major economic sectors: the semiconductor industry, information technologies, life and health technologies, energy and the environment.
The laboratory is multi-site, with locations on the Ecully and Lyon-Tech La Doua campuses. It employs around 200 people, including 121 permanent staff. The INL is a major player in the Research and Teaching Cluster.
This position is located in an innovative environment, at the cutting edge of future technologies, in strategic application sectors.

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.