Eurizon.eu

Organization: Delft University of Technology

Location: Utrecht, Netherlands

Field: Physics

Requirements:

The TEM PhD candidate should: - have a masters degree in physics, chemistry or materials science; - have strong experimental skills, preferably with transmission electron microscopy experience; - be willing to put much effort in designing and improving experimental set-ups in the area of in-situ transmission electron microscopy; - have preferably clean room experience (not required); - have good written and oral communication skills in English

Abstract:

In-situ heating experiments will be performed inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Through ground-breaking MEMS technology (microelectromechanical systems) that was recently developed in Delft, transitions at elevated temperatures can now be imaged with atomic resolution and in real time, so that the transformations are shown in movies.

Description:

In-situ heating experiments will be performed inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Through ground-breaking MEMS technology (microelectromechanical systems) that was recently developed in Delft, transitions at elevated temperatures can now be imaged with atomic resolution and in real time, so that the transformations are shown in movies. Weekly communication with the scientists on the twin project on simulations will be an important part of the job. Research Heterogeneous nanostructures are mutually connected nanocrystals (size 3-20 nm), such as PbSe/CdSe core-shell particles and semiconductor nanorods with gold tips. These multi-material nanocrystals display very diverse structural, optical and opto-electronic properties and are therefore considered as promising building blocks in future devices in the field of optics, electronics, catalysis, magnetic storage, and biophysics. However, as these materials are synthesized under wet chemical conditions they cannot, in general, be readily incorporated into devices. They are unstable outside the solution and undergo various kinds of structural transformations upon heating at temperatures as low as 100°C. Often, these transformations can be used advantageously, for example to use nanocrystal fusion for the fabrication of larger single crystals (CdSe rods, stars, rings etc.), to bring the nanostructures into thermally more stable configurations, and to obtain entirely new configurations of nanostructures that cannot be obtained otherwise. Currently, the mechanisms ruling these transitions are not well understood at all. The aim of the current proposal is to identify and develop physical mechanisms that can be employed for stabilization or manipulation of heterogeneous nanostructures. For that purpose, two closely related PhD projects will be started on in-situ experiments and on atomistic simulations.
 
When fulfilling a PhD position at the FOM foundation, you will get the status of junior scientist. You will have an employee status and can participate in all the employee benefits FOM offers. You will get a contract for 4 years. Your salary will be up to a maximum of 2,610 euro gross per month.The salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.33%. You are supposed to have a thesis finished at the end of your four year term with FOM. A training programme is part of the agreement. You and your supervisor will make up a plan for the additional education and supervising that you specifically need. This plan also defines which teaching activities you will be responsible (up to a maximum of 10% of your time). The conditions of employment of the FOM-foundation are laid down in the Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres (CAO-Onderzoekinstellingen), more exclusive information is available at this website under Personeelsinformatie (in Dutch) or under Personnel (in English). General information about working at FOM can be found in the English part of this website under Personnel. The 'FOM-sollicitatiecode' (in Dutch) applies to this position.

Deadline: 30-03-2011

Contacts:

Link: http://www.nchrem.nl/

Email: m.m.h.vanderveen@tudelft.nl

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