Postdoctoral Fellow – 2D materials for semiconductor industry and 2D foams for energy storage

Post-doctoral positions are available in Prof Barbaros Oezyilmaz group at the National University of Singapore (NUS), with multidisciplinary research conducted at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Department of Physics and Centre for Advanced 2D Materials (CA2DM). Our group specialises in material synthesis of 2D amorphous films and 3D carbon foams and generally graphene applications. We are searching for both experienced postdocs to drive the research in these areas and research engineers to develop in close collaboration with industry partners emerging use cases. You will be part of a friendly and ambitious team in a stimulating international environment and can take advantage of the state-of-the-art clean room facilities at CA2DM. You will be provided with a competitive salary package. In exceptional cases, also an appointment at the level of research assistant professor can be considered.

Available research positions:

Novel Graphene Nanofoam for Energy storage:
We recently invented a highly interconnected graphene based nanofoam (US Patent 9,691,916) that is mechanically strong, electrically conductive, electrochemically stable, and highly porous. Such properties are usually mutually exclusively, but coveted for many applications, e.g. energy storage, filtration, and catalysis. The necessary topological properties for such a material were first described by the mathematician Hermann Schwarz in the 1880s. The carbonaceous manifestation comprising a three-dimensional tapestry of amorphous graphene was proposed only in 1991 as a potential realisation. In collaboration with industry partners such as murata, we have already demonstrated the importance of this novel material for supercapacitor applications ten times longer device lifetime when compared to commercial devices have been achieved and development team its working on its use case in micro-satellites. We are looking for passionate scientists and research engineers:

  • To advance the technology to synthesize similarly nano-porous composites beyond graphene.
  • To develop next-generation supercapacitors and pseudo-capacitors utilizing such foam.
  • To demonstrate its use to power electric cars, satellites and wearable electronics, where peak power requirements, cyclability, temperature stability and form factor are crucial.
Amorphous 2D Materials:
We are looking for a passionate, self-motivated, and ambitious team member who shares our vision for the emerging field of 2D amorphous materials pioneered by our group. Our team has recently discovered the world's first one-atom-thick amorphous material, a freestanding monolayer amorphous carbon (MAC). (Nature, 577(7789), 199-203, 2020). This discovery has not only answered the decades-old open-question about atomic arrangement in amorphous solids, but also revealed a plethora of potential applications including nanoelectronics, energy storage, proton membranes, catalysis, and many more. The project aims at developing 2D amorphous materials for targeted applications by developing our novel laser based chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) technique into a unique materials toolbox to construct 2D materials with desired atomic arrangements and compositions. This project offers an opportunity to both collaborate internationally with several research groups and industrial collaborators. The candidates will explore:

  • Synthesis of layered 2D amorphous materials beyond carbon.
  • Develop use case for functional 2D amorphous films to overcome urgent industry bottlenecks, e.g. Cu diffusion barriers for semiconductor industry.

 

Qualifications:

  • Have relevant background experience in the research topic, preferably from a previous postdoctoral position.
  • Sense of ownership and pride in your performance and its impact on team's success.
  • A detailed understanding of the key technologies involved is a plus.
  • You are a true team player, you thrive in fast-paced and agile environment, you enjoy working internationally.
  • You have great interpersonal and communication skills, and you are excited by challenges.

 

Application:

Applications should be written in English and emailed to Prof Barbaros Oezyilmaz at barbaros@nus.edu.sg.

The application should include cover letter, CV with publication list and contact information for at least 2 referees.

Early submission is encouraged as applications are processed immediately. The positions will remain open until filled.