Discovery of complex intermetallics

Description

This project involves the experimental design and synthesis of new intermetallic materials and characterisation of their crystal structures and magnetic and electrical properties. New intermetallic materials are important because they offer unexplored routes to low energy information storage and other potential application such as solar fuels.

New magnetic states are urgently required to reduce the energy required to store and process information in computing. The discovery of new magnetic materials which have new magnetically ordered states can enable new approaches to low-energy computing, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of information technology and data science. The project will target new intermetallic phases which combine polar and chiral crystal structures with exotic magnetic order, such as skyrmions.

This project will involve the synthesis of existing and new intermetallic phases, accelerated by working with computational design experts, followed by structural characterization and rapid screening for magnetic and spin-transport performance. You will have the opportunity to work at international synchrotron X-ray and neutron scattering and high magnetic field facilities. Experimental work will be enabled by instrumentation that is already established and available within the participating research groups, together with world-class characterization and synthetic facilities available within the Materials Innovation Factory. Owing to the multi-faceted nature of this dynamic project, the student will work closely with computer scientists, inorganic chemists, physicists, engineers, and material scientists to discover new magnetic materials for information storage.

Qualifications: Applications are welcomed from students with a 2:1 or higher master’s degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, or Materials Science.

This position will remain open until a suitable candidate has been found. 

Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr Jon Alaria: alairaj@liverpool.ac.uk

Please apply by completing the online postgraduate research application form here: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/applying/online/  

Please ensure you quote the following on your application: Discovery of complex intermetallics as advanced magnetic and electrocatalytic materials, Ref CCPR078.