Description of the thesis topic

Chalcogenide glasses have very unique optical properties and a wide range of manufacturing processes (fusion hardening, fibre drawing, PVD, CVD, SPS sintering, ion exchange, 3D printing, etc.) that can be used to produce lenses, conventional or micro-structured fibres, thin films and photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The main optical properties that differentiate chalcogenide glasses from their oxide or fluoride counterparts are i) their broad intrinsic transparency in the infrared, which can extend to 25 µm with tellurium-rich glasses, ii) the high fluorescence emission efficiency of rare earth ions, which results in luminescence at wavelengths inaccessible with other glasses, particularly in the mid-infrared, iii) the high non-linear refractive indices, which enable efficient non-linear phenomena to occur. Integrated photonics also offers promising technological solutions for non-linear optical applications based on infrared fluorescence or sensors. Several materials are being studied to exploit these effects in the infrared. For example, the generation of supercontinuum and optical frequency combs could have a major impact on the development of telecommunications and sensors. As already mentioned, chalcogenide glasses are particularly advantageous materials in this context.

[1] Starecki, F.; Baillieul, M.; Ghanawi, T.; Hammouti, A.; Lemaitre, J.; Gutwirth, J.; Benardais, A.; Slang, S.; Charrier, J.; Bodiou, L.; Nemec, P.; Nazabal, V., Praseodymium-Doped Ge20In5Sb10Se65 Films Based on Argon Plasma Co-sputtering for Infrared-Luminescent Integrated Photonic Circuits. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2024, 16 (4), 5225-5233. [2] Halenkovič, T.; Baillieul, M.; Gutwirth, J.; Němec, P.; Nazabal, V., Amorphous Ge-Sb-Se-Te chalcogenide films fabrication for potential environmental sensing and nonlinear photonics. Journal of Materiomics 2022, 8 (5), 1009-1019. [3] Delcourt, E.; Jebali, N.; Bodiou, L.; Baillieul, M.; Baudet, E.; Lemaitre, J.; Nazabal, V.; Dumeige, Y.; Charrier, J., Self-phase modulation and four-wave mixing in a chalcogenide ridge waveguide. Optical Materials Express 2020, 10 (6), 1440-1450.

Work Context

The Institut Sciences Chimiques de Rennes UMR CNRS 6226 (Glass and Ceramics team) and the Institut Foton UMR CNRS 6082 (Photonic Systems team) have been working together for over ten years, within the framework of ANR and European (Horizon Europe) projects, to develop chalcogenide glasses deposited in thin films for integrated optics applications, and have jointly gained international recognition in this field through publications in international journals and invited conferences. With this thesis, we aim to remain one of the European leaders in chalcogenide materials for photonics. We also have strong collaborations with European laboratories where short mobility periods (1-3 months) can be arranged, depending on the PhD student's interests. The Matière, Molécules et Matériaux (3M) doctoral school covers physics and chemistry in the broadest sense. The spectrum covered ranges from subatomic physics to pharmacology and the study of granular media. More specifically, the 3M doctoral school covers inorganic chemistry, materials science and photonics. Curriculum vitae of the project leader and the leaders of the collaborating team Virginie Nazabal: After obtaining a doctorate in solid state chemistry and materials science from the University of Bordeaux and a post-doctorate in Japan (NIMS), she joined the CNRS in 2001 as a research fellow.

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

Constraints and risks

No particular constraints

Additional Information

The candidate should hold an engineering degree and/or a Master 2 with a profile and solid knowledge in materials science, solid state chemistry or solid state physics, ideally with a good grounding in optics. A strong interest in materials synthesis and characterisation is essential for this thesis subject. The PhD requires an analytical and synthesising mind, the ability to work independently while maintaining fluid and effective communication in order to promote the progress of the research project, a very good ability to work in a team, a good command of English (written and oral in order to communicate with other young researchers, write scientific articles and take part in international conferences), and a good level of writing skills in French (reports and thesis manuscript). Candidates must be highly motivated to complete their doctorate and be strongly committed to their thesis subject (training to acquire new skills, bibliographic monitoring, etc.).
The application must include :
- a detailed CV
- two references (contact by telephone and e-mail), (to be included following your cover letter in a single file)
- a covering letter (1 page - without using IA),
- marks from Masters 1 and 2 or engineering school (to be included after your CV in a single file).
The deadline for sending applications (15 june 2025)