Crystallization of chalcogenide glasses: towards new infrared transparent materials

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Crystallization of chalcogenide glasses: towards new infrared transparent materials

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Job description

Offer DescriptionCall for expression of interest descriptionThe is a highly prestigious renowned EU-funded scheme. It offers talented scientists a unique chance to set up 2-year research and training projects with the support of a supervising team. Besides providing an attractive grant, it represents a major opportunity to boost the career of promising researchers.Research laboratories in Brittany are thus looking for excellent postdoctoral researchers with an international profile to write a persuasive proposal to apply for a Marie S. Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship grant in 2024 (deadline of the EU call set on 11 September 2024). The topic and research team presented below have been identified in this regard.Main Research Field

• Chemistry (CHE)

Research sub- field(s)Materials scienceKeywordsGlass, crystallization, transparency, infrared, structural characterizationsResearch project descriptionTransparent ceramics are emerging materials in the field of photonics because of their wide range of applications: laser materials, scintillators, transparent shielding or optical lenses [1]. These materials generally have a cubic crystal structure (no birefringence) and are often obtained by pressing nanometric powders in order to limit light scattering and improve their mechanical properties. The development of new transparent ceramics is restricted by this process because it requires the development and the use of high purity nanometric ceramic powders. Moreover, the transparency of the ceramics obtained is often limited by the presence of residual porosity and/or the presence of secondary phases [1].Recently, transparent ceramics have been developed by complete crystallization of oxide glasses such as aluminates, gallates, silicates or tellurites [2]. A key step of this process is to obtain a glass with the same chemical composition as the desired ceramic. The production of this glass by melt-quenching allows to obtain a dense material (free of porosity). An adequate thermal crystallization treatment allows to convert this glass into a polycrystalline and transparent ceramic [2].The objective of this project will be to develop, by complete crystallization of glasses, new transparent chalcogenide ceramics with remarkable optical properties in the infrared. The potential applications of these materials concern thermal imaging for the medical field (diagnostics), quality control (detection of pollutants, thermal losses), automotive (night driving assistance), or security and defense (night vision).It will be necessary to transpose and adapt this crystallization process to chalcogenide materials (non-oxide materials based on sulfur, selenium or tellurium). Based on the existing literature and the skills of the research team in Rennes (strong experience in the synthesis of “exotic” glasses), several chemical compositions will have to be identified and selected in order to test their ability to form a glass. These glasses will then be crystallized via an adapted thermal treatment to obtain ceramics. Different physico-chemical characterizations (XRD, DSC, TEM, EDS, optical…) will be performed to study these different materials. This work will focus on the structural characterization of the ceramic materials obtained: nature and morphology of the crystals, grain boundaries, possible residual phases… Within the framework of already well-established collaborations, in-situ structural characterizations could be carried out (XRD, SEM, HRTEM). The study of microstructure/transparency correlations during the crystallization process will then allow the optimization of the synthesis parameters (composition, annealing conditions…). Depending on the candidate’s profile, spectroscopy (NMR, Raman.) could be used to deepen the study of the structure of these new materials. Finally, the transparent ceramics obtained will be characterized optically (transparency, luminescence) and mechanically.1. L. B. Kong, et al., “Transparent Ceramics”, Springer International Publishing, (2015), DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-18956-72. I. Milisavljevic, et al., Crystallization of glass materials into transparent optical ceramics. International Materials Reviews, 2022: 1-29.Supervisor(s)The Postdoctoral Fellow will be supervised by Louisiane Verger and Sébastien Chenu.Sébastien Chenu received his PhD degree from the University of Rennes 1 (France) in 2009. From 2010 to 2014, he has worked as a temporary researcher in different laboratories (ISCR – Rennes, CEMHTI – Orléans and ICMCB – Bordeaux and in Zwanziger lab – Halifax. In 2014, he joined the University of Limoges as an associate professor at the IRCER laboratory. And in 2021, he obtained a mutation in Rennes University. His current research interests are focused on transparent oxide and non-oxide materials for optical applications.Louisiane Verger received her PhD in Physics and Chemistry of Materials from the University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris, France) in 2015. She joined the Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry of Bordeaux (France) as a postdoctoral researcher for 18 months. She then joined in 2017 Drexel University (Philadelphia, USA) as a postdoctoral researcher. She belongs to the CNRS as a researcher since 2019. Her research activity is focused on non-oxide chalcogenide glasses and glass- ceramics for optical and energy storage applications.The supervisors have a diverse international network of collaborations, notably with Iowa State University (Ames, US), Drexel University (Philadelphia, US), Shenzhen University (China).Department/ ResearchResearch at ISCR in Rennes covers the fields of health and well-being, sustainable chemistry and processes, environment, energy, optics and photonics, electronics and molecular materials.The Postdoctoral fellow will work in the glasses and ceramics team. The research group is organized around 4 main topics: Formulation of materials – Infrared Photonic and Sensors – Biomaterials – Energy Conversion and Storage.This team is equipped with various analytical and characterization systems to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of amorphous and crystalline materials.LocationISCR, Campus de Beaulieu – Rennes – FranceSuggestion for interdisciplinary / intersectoral secondments and placementsA secondment can be considered in CEMHTI laboratory in Orléans (France) to develop in-situ high resolution TEM characterizations to understand chalcogenide crystallization mechanisms.RequirementsResearch Field Chemistry Education Level PhD or equivalentSkills/Qualifications

• Materials Science (glass, glass-ceramics and/or ceramics)
• Microstructural and structural characterizations (DRX, SEM, TEM)
• Optical characterizations (transmittance, luminescence)
• English
• Motivated and curious person
• Publications: for instance, at least 1 per year since the PhD in 1st author

Languages ENGLISH Level ExcellentAdditional InformationEligibility criteriaAcademic qualification: By 11 September 2024, applicants must be in possessionof a doctoral degree, defined as a successfully defended doctoral thesis, even if the doctoral degree has yet to be awarded.Research experience: Applicants must have a maximum of 8 years full-timeequivalent experience in research, measured from the date applicants were in possession of a doctoral degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks (e.g. due to parental leave), will not be taken into account.Nationality & Mobility rules: Applicants can be of any nationality but must nothave resided more than 12 months in France in the 36 months immediately prior to the MSCA-PF call deadline on 11 September 2024.Selection processWe encourage all motivated and eligible postdoctoral researchers to send their expressions of interest through the EU Survey application form ( ), before 5th of May 2024. Your application shall include:

• a CV specifying: (i) the exact dates for each position and its location (country) and (ii) a list of publications;

• a cover letter including a research outline (up to 2 pages) identifying the research synergies with the project supervisor(s) and proposed research topics described above.

Estimated timetableDeadline for sending an expression of interest5th May 2024Selection of the most promising application(s)May – June 2024Writing the MSCA-PF proposal with the support of the above-mentioned supervisor(s)June – September 2024MSCA-PF 2024 call deadline11th September 2024Publication of the MSCA-PF evaluation resultsFebruary 2025Start of the MSCA-PF project (if funded)May 2025 (at the earliest)Website for additional job detailsWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes – UMR CNRS 6226 Country France City Rennes Postal Code 35042 Street 263 avenue Général Leclerc GeofieldWhere to apply WebsiteContact CityRennes WebsiteStreet263 avenue Général Leclerc Postal Code35042 E-Mail[email protected]STATUS: EXPIRED

Expected salary

Location

Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine

Job date

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:03:20 GMT

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