PhD in Proximity effect with charge density waves (M/F)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Thermal transport has fundamental and technological implications for thermal management of electronic components or the conception of new thermoelectric devices. However, it is not yet fully understood, and engineering thermal transport is still a challenge, not yet at the application level. 2D materials exhibit interesting thermal properties and their atomic thickness provides an easy access to engineer the phonon transport pathways. The project here aims at designing asymmetric 2D heat conductors in order to favour a heat conduction direction and therefore perform heat rectification. This would realize the first building block of more complex thermal engineering, and will therefore constitute the basis to fundamentally test thermal transport models.

This PhD work is part of the BF2D ANR project (ANR-24-CE50-2146) coordinated by CETHIL (Lyon). While CETHIL will perform theoretical calculations on the system, Institut Néel will perform experiments to detect asymmetric heat transport in the samples, using Raman spectroscopy. The samples will be based on 2D materials, suspended or not, and asymmetrically patterned with controlled defects acting as photon scattering centres (Fig c). Raman spectroscopy has been already widely used as a non-contact thermal probe at the micrometer scale to access the thermal conductivity of graphene (1,2,3). Recently, an insightful approach was developed by Reparaz et al. (4) and at Institut Néel for graphene (5), that uses two lasers (Fig a), one as a heater and one as a non-invasive thermal probe, giving access to spatial mapping of temperature within graphene (4). Furthermore, Institut Néel has a renowned expertise in thermal bridge measurements of heat conduction thanks to the development of unique thermal platforms at the microscale (6 and Fig b). The core of the PhD work at Institut Néel will rely on these two experimental techniques: Raman thermal mapping and temperature variable heat conduction measurements. Other labs within the consortium will provide 2D materials (ONERA), optical absorption data (LOMA) and additional theoretical modelling -IMPMC). From all these information, we will contribute to clarify the phonon transport at mesoscale.

Expected skills:
• Background in condensed matter physics
• Knowledge of cleanroom techniques, 2D materials, optical spectroscopy
• Ability to multitask effectively
• Ability to work in a team

1) A.A. Balandin, S. Ghosh, W. Bao, I. Calizo, D. Tewelde-brhan, F. Miao, and C.N. Lau, Nano Lett. 8, 902-907 (2008). 2) W. Cai, A.L. Moore, Y. Zhu, X. Li, S. Chen, L. Shi, and R.S. Ruoff , Nano Lett. 10, 1645-1651 (2010). 3) C. Faugeras, B. Faugeras, M. Orlita, M. Potemski, R.R. Nair, and A.K. Geim, ACS Nano 4, 1889-1892 (2010). 4) J.S. Reparaz, et al., Rev. Sci. Instr. 85, 034901 (2014). 5) P. Singh, …, L. Marty, J. Chaste, M. Lazzeri and N. Bendiab, Submitted to ACS Nano 6) A. Tavakoli, K. Lulla, T. Crozes, E. Collin, and O. Bourgeois, Nat. Commun. 9, 4287 (2018)

Your Work Environment

Institut NÉEL is a CNRS unit (UPR 2940) under agreement with the University Grenoble Alpes. The laboratory is related to the CNRS Physique. It is located in Grenoble, in the heart of a unique scientific, industrial and cultural environment. It is one of the largest French national research institutes for fundamental research in condensed matter physics enriched by interdisciplinary activities at the interfaces with chemistry, engineering and biology. It consists of 450 employees, including 175 researchers.
CNRS is a public, scientific and technological organization.
The core mandate is to identify, to carry out or to have carried out, either alone or with partners, all research that advances science or contributes to the country's economic, social, and cultural progress. Internationally recognized for the excellence of its scientific research, the CNRS is a reference in the world of research and development, as well as for the general public.

The candidate will work with the team: QUEST / Quam2m - "2D quantum states with tunable interactions".

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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