Project title: Studies and characterization of interfaces in nanoscale
materials using novel 3DEM techniques.
Reference number: SU FV-3142-13 (project
HT13-1).
Deadline: November 20, 2013
General information.
Stockholm University (
http://www.su.se) is a modern
university with a multicultural environment and is one of the world’s top 100
higher education institutes. Here more than 60,000 students and 5,000 staff are
active within science, humanities and social sciences. The Department of
Materials and Environmental Chemistry (MMK,
http://www.mmk.su.se) is a leading
institution with research spanning over Materials and Solid State Chemistry
focusing on different classes of materials, from ceramics and glasses to self-assembled
and porous materials. The work often encompasses synthesis, characterisation by
X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, NMR studies, and modelling with
computer simulations. Environmental aspects are also an important part of the
research activities, where refined natural or anthropogenic chemicals and
materials are studied in relation to their impact in our global environment.
Project description.
Synthetic and naturally occurring nanostructured materials
are the building blocks of nanoscience and nanotechnology. These nanostructures
often exhibit novel properties as their physical dimensions become comparable
to certain characteristic length scales, which situate them at the border
between quantum effects and bulk properties.
Nanomaterials composed of two
phases often shown interesting interfacial phenomena. This project focuses on
developing element specific three-dimensional electron microscopy (3DEM) to obtain
compositional and crystallographic information at the interface of such
nanoscale materials and correlate it with optical and magnetic properties. The
project will be carried out in close collaboration with other groups at
Stockholm University and international partners in Spain, Denmark and USA.
Relevant
publications:
1.
E. Wetterskog, C.W. Tai, J. Grins, L. Bergström
and G. Salazar-Alvarez, ACS Nano 2013 7, 7132.
2.
G. Salazar-Alvarez, H. Lidbaum, A. López-Ortega,
M. Estrader, K. Leifer, J. Sort, S. Suriñach, M. D. Baró, and J. Nogués, Journal of the American Chemical Society
2011 133, 16738.
3.
K.L. Krycka, J. A. Borchers, G. Salazar-Alvarez,
A. López-Ortega, M. Estrader, S. Estradé, E. Winkler, R.D. Zysler, J. Sort, F.
Peiró, Maria Dolors Baró, C.C. Kao, and J. Nogués, ACS Nano 2013 7, 921.
4.
S. Disch, E. Wetterskog, R. P. Hermann, G.
Salazar-Alvarez, P. Busch, T. Brueckel, L. Bergström, S. Kamali, Nano Letters 2011, 11, 1651.
More information.
Starting date:
the anticipated starting date is February 1, 2014, or later.
How to apply.
Interested candidates should send their application and
supporting material to:
registrator@su.se with
reference number SU FV-3142-13 in the subject field.
Your application
should contain:
- An
application on the form (can be found at www.mmk.su.se/page.php?pid=413)
together with CV and documentation of study merits, where your eligibility
is clearly documented (see below).
- A
"Letter of intent", describing your expectations of the PhD
studies connected to the project.
- IMPORTANT:
Please combine all your documents into a single, self-contained pfd-file,
including the cover letter.
Eligibility.
To be eligible for PhD studies in chemistry, an education at
the undergraduate level of at least 240 credits is required (corresponding to
three years of full-time studies on undergraduate level and one year on
advanced level) with at least 60 credits in chemistry or physics. Those studies
should include at least one specialized course or a thesis in the research
subject. In order to facilitate the evaluation of merits and suitability for
the PhD studies your curriculum vitae (CV) should contain information about the
extent and focus of the academic studies. The quantity (as part of an academic
year) and the quality mark of courses in chemistry and physics are of
particular interest. Please, state titles of undergraduate theses and project
works. Further information is found in the home page,
www.mmk.su.se/page.php?pid=413.
A selection committee will assess
the candidate´s ability to successfully complete the PhD program and invite
short-listed candidates to an interview in person or via internet. The study
merits are an important selection criterion. Economic support for the graduate
studies is guaranteed for full time studies during the time agreed in the
individual
study syllabus (study plan), normally for four
years of full time studies, see
www.mmk.su.se/page.php?pid=413.
A team led by German Salazar-Alvarez, researcher at the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, has been awarded 10 MSEK by the Swedish Research Council, VR, to develop sample environments that will allow the in-situ and in-operando multiscale characterization of novel functional nanomaterials such as biomaterials, battery components, and magnetic nanoparticles. Coupled to the high brilliance of the ESS source the project will provide exceptional opportunities for the envisioned materials. Also, testing of the new sample environments at existing neutron facilities will promote the training of the Swedish community in neutron scattering.