Vacancies

Research Associate in Printed Thermoelectric and Memristor Devices

This position will be based in the Two-Dimensional Materials, Wearable Electronics and Biosensors (2DWEB) group, led by Dr Felice Torrisi, in the Chemistry Department, White City Campus, Imperial College London (Dr Torrisi’s profile and 2DWEB group). The laboratories are located in the new purpose-built Molecular Sciences Research Hub, which spans 25,000 square metres of key research facilities, covering a broad spectrum of molecular sciences research, from nanomaterials and organic electronics to chemical biology and tissue engineering.

The aim is to develop a new class of thermally conducting coatings, as well as thermoelectric and memristive devices, based on inks and composites of novel electrically and thermally switching molecules (e.g. compounds of metal-alkynes and macrocycles such as porphyrins and phthalocyanines), in collaboration with our partners at the Universities of Lancaster, Oxford, and Liverpool. The coatings and devices will be fabricated using established printing and coating deposition techniques (including inkjet printing and spray coating), combined with conventional lithographic techniques.

You will provide specialist expertise in solution processing of 2D materials, nanomaterials, or molecules, with experience in printing and coating, demonstrated evidence of thin-film device fabrication using inkjet printing or spray coating techniques, and expertise in self-assembled molecular films and low-noise thermal or DC/AC electrical transport measurements. A comprehension of the thermal and thermoelectric properties of molecular materials is desirable. The new compounds will be provided by research collaborators in the Long Group at Imperial and at the University of Oxford.

The post is funded under the recently awarded EPSRC Programme Grant “QMol – Quantum Engineering of Energy-Efficient Molecular Materials”. This ambitious research programme has a strong interdisciplinary nature, spanning printed and flexible electronics, device physics, molecular electronics, and thin-film devices. The goal is to develop novel devices for active or passive thermally switching coatings, cross-plane memristive switches, and thermoelectric generators.

For more information, please visit: Description | Jobs | Imperial College London

Research Associate in Chemical Sensors Based on 2D Materials 

We are seeking an enthusiastic researcher with experience in nanomaterials and two-dimensional materials for chemical sensors and biosensors.

This position will be based in the Two-Dimensional Materials, Wearable Electronics and Biosensors (2DWEB) group, led by Dr Felice Torrisi, in the Chemistry Department, White City Campus, Imperial College London (Dr Torrisi’s profile and 2DWEB group). The laboratories are located in the purpose-built Molecular Sciences Research Hub, which spans 25,000 square metres of cutting-edge research facilities, covering a broad range of molecular sciences, from nanomaterials and organic electronics to chemical biology and tissue engineering.

The post holder will contribute to independent and original research within the Two-Dimensional Materials and Wearable Bioelectronics group, publish findings in refereed journals, and assist with teaching and research group administration.

Key Research Focus

The goal is to develop a scalable new class of chemical sensing platforms based on inks made from 2D materials, their heterostructures, and hybrid platforms. These devices will be tested for a wide range of applications, including: biosensors, water purification, and antibiotic resistance detection.

This project requires a high degree of teamwork and interdisciplinary research.

Application Details

Prospective applicants should submit their applications by 13 March 2024 to Dr Felice Torrisi at f.torrisi@imperial.ac.uk.

Joining the Group

We constantly welcome enthusiastic students and postdocs willing to do research at the forefront of nanoscience, bioelectronics and wearable technologies.

Get in touch if you are interested in joining the group: f.torrisi@imperial.ac.uk 

Current Opportunity

A PhD studentship is currently available in:

• Printed Thermally Active and Memristive Devices with Advanced Quantum Molecules (More details below)

Contact Dr Torrisi for more details on the projects and click here to apply.

Please visit the webpage of the 2DWEB group for further details on our research.

PhD studentship - Printed Thermally Active and Memristive Devices with Advanced Quantum Molecules

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship to work on printed thermally active and memristive devices with advanced quantum molecules.

Project Description

Ubiquitous energy harvesters and generators based on thermal and electrical switching materials are key enablers of future wearable electronics and distributed sensor networks. Current materials primarily achieve switching through classical reconfiguration of molecular structures, often causing substantial dimensional changes that lead to mechanical stress and compromise device stability.

Quantum interference has recently emerged as a promising mechanism to achieve thermal and/or electrical switching without molecular dimensional change. The recently awarded QMol Programme Grant aims to develop novel molecules with high thermal and electrical switching properties and to demonstrate large-scale printed and flexible thermally switchable coatings, thermoelectric devices, and memristors.

The Torrisi Group specialises in printable ink formulations for printed electronics, making it ideally suited for the development of a new generation of printed and flexible films for thermal management, energy generation, and local memory storage.

Key Research Questions

• Can we create large-scale thermal and electrical switches based on quantum interference?
• What are the key figures of merit and device parameters required for device control and optimisation?

Research Methodology

This project will leverage novel thermally and electrically active molecules synthesised within QMol and focus on:

• Deposition of thin films via printing and coating techniques (e.g. inkjet printing, spray coating, dip coating)
• Stabilisation of molecules in solvents suitable for printing, followed by rheological characterisation (e.g. viscosity, surface tension, density) to determine the optimal deposition technique
• Deposition of molecular dispersions to form films with varying packing and flake orientation
• Characterisation of in-plane and out-of-plane thermal switching properties using Conducting Atomic Force Microscopy (C-AFM), in collaboration with the University of Lancaster, to identify quantum phenomena enhancing thermal switching
• Iterative optimisation of film deposition and device layout
• Fabrication of thermoelectric and memristive devices using scalable printing and coating techniques to extend enhanced thermal and electrical switching capabilities to all-printed energy and memory devices

This research will provide new insights into the thermal and electrical properties of large-area nanostructured films incorporating thermally and electrically switching molecules.

Training and Research Environment

The student will be fully integrated into the Molecular Sciences Research Hub and the 2DWEB group, providing a unique opportunity to collaborate with researchers specialising in synthesis, nanomaterials, energy, imaging & sensing, and printed electronics.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must have, or expect to achieve, a first-class or high 2:1 degree in:

• Engineering
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science

Funding

Home applicants are eligible for a full award, covering university fees and providing a maintenance allowance.