Missions

Carbon nanotubes are exceptional nanochannels, featuring a hollow core precisely aligned with molecular dimensions. Over the past decades, they have spurred extensive research due to the intriguing physics at this scale, including phenomena such as ultra-fast water flow [Hummer2001, Secchi2016], ionic Coulomb blockade [Feng2016], and quantum friction [Kavokine2022].

Establishing a clear connection between the physics of confined matter and the specific properties of nanotubes—such as their diameter, metallicity, or chirality—remains a significant experimental challenge. In this collaborative project, we aim to fabricate well-characterized individual carbon nanotubes with structural features appropriate for their ionic transport properties (conducted at LPENS, Paris) using innovative approaches.

Activities

Le candidat devra :
- Préparer des substrats micropatternés en utilisant des techniques de microfabrication en salle blanche : photolithographie, gravure ICP, ...
- Développer des protocoles de croissance CVD pour les nanotubes de carbone : optimisation du catalyseur et des conditions CVD pour obtenir des nanotubes de carbone individuels avec des caractéristiques appropriées.
- Caractériser les caractéristiques structurelles des nanotubes de carbone individuels par MEB, spectroscopie Raman et AFM.
- Développer des outils d'analyse de données si nécessaire (par exemple Python).
- Présenter les résultats lors des réunions de l'équipe et du consortium.

Le candidat peut :
- Participer aux activités de dissémination : publications dans des revues scientifiques, conférences, communication grand public, etc.

Skills

The candidate (M/F) must a doctoral degree in Physics or Materials Science. He/she must have a strong experience in clean room microfabrication techniques and/or in Raman spectroscopy. Previous research experience in carbon nanotubes will be considered as a plus.

Work Context

The research program is in the framework of the ERC Synergy Grant n-AQUA coordinated by Lyderic Bocquet, CNRS research director at 'Laboratoire de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure' (LPENS) in Paris, France, in the team 'Micromegas'.
The research work will be carried out in the 'Laboratoire Charles Coulomb' (L2C) at the University of Montpellier, France, in the team 'Nanomaterials'.
The research work will be supervised by Adrien Noury, CNRS researcher, and by Vincent Jourdain, professor at the University of Montpellier.
There will be numerous exchanges between the two teams within the duration of the project.

Constraints and risks

none

Additional Information

none