Advanced (S)TEM characterization of stainless steel – Industrial PhD. Thesis

An opportunity has arisen for a highly-motivated student interested in advanced experimental work in a PhD project at the Nanomaterials and Catalysis Lab at the University of Cádiz (Spain).

This thesis is focused on industrial problematics and will be performed in collaboration with the ACERINOX Company, a world leader in stainless steel production. This project will include short stays at the technical department of ACERINOX at Algeciras bay.

The objective of this project is to study the nanoscale microstructural changes related to variation in composition, mechanical deformation and corrosion processes in stainless steel. This thesis has a strong experimental focus. You will undertake key experimental and characterization work and be expected to analyze and disseminate the results through conference papers and journal publications. The analytical portfolio will include advanced (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) techniques such as high-resolution STEM-HAADF, energy electron loss-spectroscopy (EELS), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) or precession electron diffraction (PED).

Facilities to develop the project at UCA include state-of-the-art microscopessuch as(a) a FEI Titan3 Themis (60-300 kV) fitted with a monochromator, a Cs Double corrector, a high-resolution EELS spectrometer and a Super-X windowless EDX detectors (b) a last generation non-corrected TEM/STEM FEI Talos F200X. A focus ion beam (FIB) microscope and last generation in-situ sample holders (heating and gas atmosphere) will also be delivered in the following months and intensively used in the PhD Project. A wide variety of equipment for TEM sample preparation as well as software packages for data processing and simulation are also available. Salary is about 1200-1300 €/month, after taxes, with 14 monthly payments/year. The duration of the contract is 4 years with the possibility to convert the last year in a post-doc contract after completion of the thesis.

This thesis represents a unique opportunity to combine fundamental and applied research work in one of the leading European groups dedicated to electron microscopy.

Candidates should have a master's degree in engineering, material science, physics or chemistry.
Contacts : Luc Lajaunie (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and José Calvino (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Interested candidates should contact the PhD advisors as soon as possible in order to complete the administrative
formalities.