Thesis subjects 2025 / ED182

Students with a Master’s degree who wish to apply for a doctoral contract are invited to send their application to the thesis director, whose contact details are given in the subject description.

You can find all the subjects proposed on the dedicated page of the ED 182 website: https://edpcp.u-strasbg.fr/?page_id=7819

Information on the timetable and how to apply is available at  : https://edpcp.u-strasbg.fr/?p=319

The topics proposed by l’Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg – UMR 7504

Conception de matériaux nanostructurés à faible impact environnemental pour la production d’hydrogène par électro-catalyse /PICHON Benoît (DCMI)

Machine learning assisted first principle molecular dynamics for modelling structures and properties of disordered materials / ORI Guido (DCMI)

Etude spectrale des propriétés optoélectroniques des oxydes ferroélectriques par sonde locale / DINIA Aziz Dinia – RASTEI Mircea (Co-encadrant) (DCMI)

Photochemistry of oxazolones / HOFFMANN Norbert (DMO)

Quantum charge effects in nanoparticulate plexcitonic systems / DONNIO Bertrand (DMO)

Difluorure de bore de curcuminoïde : émetteurs pour l’électronique organique / D’ALEO Anthony (DMO)

Dynamics of charges and spins in a 2D magnet induced by a femtosecond laser pulse: FePS3 antiferromagnet / BARTHELEMY Marie & HALTE Valérie (DON)

Exploring quantum defects in 2D materials with ultrafast optical coherent microscopy / BARSELLA Alberto – FRAS François (Co-encadrant) (DON)

Influence of the environment on electron capture decay: Investigation of the microscopic nature of dark matter / HERVIEUX Paul-Antoine (DON)

Optimization and control of quantum heat engines / MANFREDI Giovanni (DON)

Quantum thermodynamics for electronic transport / WEIMANN Dietmar & JALABERT Rodolfo (DMONS)

Ab initio calculated magnetic coupling between magnetic nanoparticles on graphene / ALOUANI Mebarek – BACQ-LABREUIL Benjamin (Co-encadrant) (DMONS)

Non-linear hall effects: towards efficient electrical rectification for THZ detection / BAILLEUL Matthieu & NOËL Paul (DMONS)

Quantum spintronic qubit: first experiments / BOWEN Martin (DMONS)

Skyrmion characterisation and manipulation via a molecular spin probe / LIMOT Laurent (DSI)

“Behind the IPCMS doors”

The Communication department of IPCMS is diversifying its activities to enhance the institute’s visibility by launching a new
participatory initiative!
The goal of these episodes, presented in a brief format lasting only a few minutes, is to highlight the work, research, and individuals who contribute to the life of our laboratory.

The first episode dedicated to the STnano platform, part 1: 2DLab, is available on our Youtube channel

New ALD System in glovebox now operational at STnano facility

System Highlights:

  • Glovebox-integrated ALD for controlled atmosphere deposition (less than 1ppm O2 & H2O)
  • New capabilities for Al2O3 and HfO2 thin film deposition
  • Enables precise layering and composite structure creation

Research Opportunities:

  • Creation of ultrathin Al2O3 and HfO2 films and their composites
  • Studies on Al2O3/HfO2
  • Investigation of electrical properties of high-k dielectric materials

Potential Applications:

High-density capacitor fabrication for advanced electronics

Exploration of ferroelectric properties in doped HfO2 films

Development of novel gate dielectrics for semiconductor and/or 2D devices

Next Steps:

  1. Introductory workshops will be held to familiarize researchers with the system’s capabilities and the new materials.
  2. The facility is now accepting research proposals that leverage these new deposition capabilities.
  3. We encourage collaborative projects to explore the full potential of Al2O3 and HfO2 in various applications.

This new ALD system represents a significant advancement in STnano research infrastructure, positioning us at the forefront of materials science and nanotechnology research. For more information, training sessions, or to discuss potential research projects, please contact STnano facility manager

This work has benefited from the government grant Program PEPR-Spin, project SPINMAT, operated by the French National Research Agency as part of the France 2030 program, reference « ANR-22-EXSP-0007»

New PLD platform equipment

The sputtering chamber, directly connected to one of the two PLD chambers, enables successive depositions without intermediate venting. The sputtering system, assembled by the platform team, was custom-built to fit perfectly with the PLD configuration. It is equipped with a 2” DC magnetron, enabling, among other things, the deposition of metallic materials (platinum, copper, etc…) which, combined with the functional oxides developed by the “thin-film oxides” team, allows studies in the field of spintronics.

Laser heating of the sample holder

The platform has also improved the heating of the pulsed laser deposited samples. In addition to the existing resistive heating system, a new laser heating system has been installed. This new heating system heats the back of the sample holder using a laser (class 4) with a wavelength of 980 nm. The temperature is measured at the rear with a pyrometer. With this new device higher temperatures can be reached (at least 1100°C compared to 900°C for the resistive heating). Temperature changes can be more rapid, and annealing in an oxygen atmosphere is feasible, since laser heating eliminates issues like thermal inertia and contact oxidation.

For more information on these two new pieces of equipment, jointly funded by PEPR SPIN, CNRS, IPCMS and the “Thin-Film Oxides” team, please contact one of the PLD platform members.

Platinum deposition in the sputtering chamber located between the PLD chamber and the loadlock.

The Lumensium Project supported by the CNRS RISE programme

The Lumensium project, led by Nicolas del Giudice and Laurent Douce, researchers in the Organic Materials Department at the Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (CNRS/Université de Strasbourg), is proposing an innovative crystalline organic scintillator capable of detecting neutrons at all energies and discriminating them from gamma rays. This new material will replace Helium(3), a material in tension currently used as standard detectors for neutron detection, while being more efficient and versatile.

Read the article on CNRS Innovation (in french)

Celebration of the 150 years of the SFP

Thank you to the lab staff who took part in the day and helped to make it a success.

Charles Hirlimann’s lecture on lasers was much appreciated and filled the auditorium.

The afternoon connected to the national event organized by SFP was a convivial moment. IPCMS distinguished itself by winning the live quiz and 2 of the pre-event games.

Answers to the games

STnano acquires an etching equipment with a nanometric precision

This equipment, unique in Alsace, will allow researchers to design all kinds of heterostructures based on thin films with nanometric precision. In a high vacuum environment, the acceleration of Argon atoms allows the etching of thin films with a controlled rate. Also, equipped with an in situ diagnostic tool of the material etched from the substrate (SIMS), it is thus possible to obtain an ideal control of the etching. The system is equipped with a second chamber that will allow the deposition of thin oxide layers by sputtering without the need to vent the sample after etching. This new tool completes the portfolio of processes available at STnano and will allow for new advances in fields such as spintronics, nanomagnetism, unconventional electronic devices, and nanosciences in general.

This equipment was acquired within the framework of the regional project RANGE thanks to the support of the Grand EST Region, the ITI Qmat, Unistra and CNRS