12 months contract | Belvaux

Are you passionate about research? So are we! Come and join us

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment, and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

Do you want to know more about LIST ? check our website: https://www.list.lu/

Discover our MRT for Innovation Services department: https://www.list.lu/en/materials/

How will you contribute?

Piezoelectric materials can translate mechanical strain in electric signal or induce the movement of a device by applying a voltage. They are extremely useful in microsystems industry as thin films and spread rapidly on all mobile devices (microphone, loudspeakers, acoustic filters, haptic devices). The best piezoelectric thin films contain lead and finding a lead-free alternative has been a long-lasting quest for more than 20 years. Potassium Sodium Niobate (KNN)-based films have attracted attention thanks to excellent piezoelectric properties, as shown by sputtering (Shibata et al., Applied Physics Express, 2008) and more recently by Pulsed Lased Deposition technique (Huajun Liu et al., Science 2020).

Several groups investigated Chemical Solution Deposition (CSD) of KNN but have not reached properties as competitive as the ones from lead-based films (Nakashima et al. J. Appl. Phys. 2007, Kupec et al. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 2012, Kovacova et al. J. Appl. Phys. 2021).Kovacova et al. Chem. Eur. J. 2020, Kovacova et al. JAP 2021).

At LIST, we have been working on piezoelectric films by CSD method since 2014, from the material synthesis up to the fabrication of actual devices, such as haptic actuators (Glinsek et al., Adv. Funct. Mat. 2020). CSD is interesting because it is cost-effective and a readily scalable method. It also enables rapid composition modifications in comparison with sputtering or PLD.

Our recent developments on KNN CSD films have shown that these films can exhibit piezoelectric properties nearly as good as lead-based materials such as lead titanate zirconate (PZT) when they are deposited on silicon substrates. Consequently, in our endeavor to investigate transparent piezoelectric films, we want to study such KNN films on glass substrates combined with transparent electrodes also developed in the group.

In this project, KNN films will be fabricated by Chemical Solution Deposition method on glass substrates. Electrical characterization including dielectric, impedance spectroscopy, ferroelectric and piezoelectric characterizations will be performed. A special focus will be performed on field-assisted Raman spectrometry together with the University of Luxembourg[AB1] , thanks to the transparency of KNN stacks.

In terms of device, the group has an extensive experience on haptic devices (see e.g. Glinsek at al., Inkjet‐Printed Piezoelectric Thin Films for Transparent Haptics, Advanced Materials Technologies 7 (8), 2200147 (2022)). Therefore, the final goal of this postdoc is to integrate these films in a functional transparent haptic device, the first ever made with transparent lead free materials.

Is Your profile described below? Are you our future colleague? Apply now!

• Applicants with a PhD degree should have a background in materials science chemistry, ideally on the development of piezoelectric films and with an experience of haptic devices.
• A strong teamwork spirit is a must.
• English is a must.

Your LIST benefits

• An organization with a passion for impact and strong RDI partnerships in Luxembourg and Europe that works on responsible and independent research projects
• Sustainable by design, empowering our belief that we play an essential role in paving the way to a green society
• Innovative infrastructures and exceptional labs occupying more than 5,000 square metres, including innovations in all that we do
• An environment encouraging curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship in all areas
• Personalized learning programme to foster our staff’s soft and technical skills
• Multicultural and international work environment with more than 50 nationalities represented in our workforce
• Diverse and inclusive work environment empowering our people to fulfil their personal and professional ambitions
• Gender-friendly environment with multiple actions to attract, develop and retain women in science
• 32 days’ paid annual leave, 11 public holidays, 13-month salary, statutory health insurance
• Flexible working hours, home working policy and access to lunch vouchers

Apply online

https://www.list.lu/en/jobs/

Your application must include:

• A motivation letter oriented towards the position and detailing your experience;
• A scientific CV with contact details;
• List of publications (and patents, if applicable);
• Contact details of 2 references.

Application procedure and conditions

• LIST is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring and retaining diverse personnel. We value all applicants and will consider all competent candidates for employment without regard to national origin, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, age or disability;
• Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled;
• An assessment committee will review the applications and select candidates based on guidelines that aim to ensure equal opportunities; 
• The main criteria for selection will be the correspondence of the existing skills and expertise of the applicant with the requirements mentioned above.