Missions

The main goal of this project is to develop a fabrication and characterization platform for lithium niobate aimed at Mid-Infrared photonic applications at ILM and INL in collaboration with the company 3D-Oxide. Various objectives include:
- Performing micrometric shaping of sapphire substrates for layer deposition.
- Designing GDS files for lithography mask fabrication.
- Fabricating waveguides through lithography and etching on lithium niobate layers.
- Morphologically characterizing the fabricated components using microscopy.

Activités

The recruited individual (12-month fixed-term contract) will work in the characterization labs of the Photonic Materials and Nanostructures team at the Institut Lumière Matière (ILM). He or she will also work in the NanoLyon cleanrooms of the Institute for Nanotechnologies of Lyon (INL) for using lithography, etching, and micro-cutting equipment. Characterization methods will mainly involve microscopy techniques (Optical Microscopy, SEM, AFM…), ellipsometer and profilometry. The contract will be edited by UCBL with a remuneration at 2935€ gross per month (2359 € net).

Compétences

We are seeking a candidate with a BAC+5 or BAC+8 degree in physics, materials science, and/or electronics. Experience in micro-devices fabrication and characterization would be appreciated.

Contexte de travail

The Institut Lumière Matière (iLM) is a CNRS-University of Lyon 1 research unit located on the Lyon Tech La Doua campus. With around 300 collaborators, including a hundred PhD students and postdocs, and 150 interns per year, the iLM is a major player in physics and chemistry research in the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region, recognized internationally for its research excellence. The research of the Photonic Materials and Nanostructures team (ILM-MNP) focuses on the development and study of optical materials and nanostructures. The Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon (INL) aims to develop multidisciplinary technological research in micro and nanotechnologies and their applications. The research conducted spans from materials to systems, and the laboratory relies on the Lyon NanoLyon technology platform.
Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) [1] is a material with excellent ferroelectric, electro-optic, acoustic, and nonlinear optical properties. Today, obtaining epitaxial films is highly desired for optical and acoustic devices. Following the success of crystal thinning techniques, the development of LiNbO3 deposition techniques has remained limited. Therefore, an approach based on the direct epitaxial growth of thin LiNbO3 films would offer numerous advantages, such as direct photonic integration into devices and complex heterojunctions, as well as control of properties through doping and strain engineering. Recently, the CBVD (Chemical Beam Vapor Deposition) growth method has made this type of layer possible [2].
The missions of this contract are part of the ANR-PRCE MIRLIN research project, which aims to shape these layers for applications in integrated photonics at mid-infrared wavelengths. The company 3D-oxides will supply lithium niobate layers produced by CBVD, and the INL, in collaboration with the ILM, will be responsible for shaping the layers and substrates to create integrated optics devices. The recruited person will work with the various project stakeholders and, by the end of this contract, will be able to leverage a broad experience with different cleanroom nanofabrication tools and lithium niobate, a material that is rapidly growing in both academic and industrial settings, both in France and internationally

Contraintes et risques

recruited engineer will work with protections associated with risks present in the cleanroom and characterization rooms.

Informations complémentaires

References:
[1] B. Zivasatienraj et al., “Epitaxy of LiNbO3: Historical Challenges and Recent Success” Crystals 2021, 11, 397 https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11040397
[2] A. Pellegrino et al., “Efficient Optimization of High-Quality Epitaxial Lithium Niobate Thin Films by Chemical Beam Vapor Deposition: Impact of Cationic Stoichiometry” Adv Mater Interfaces 2023, 10, 34, https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202300535