The project:
The development of new plasmonic metamaterials is important for a wide range of applications such as biomedical imaging, molecular sensing and analysis, environmental monitoring, photo-catalysis, broadband light trapping, photovoltaics, and electrochromic devices. Multifunctional plasmonic materials with reversibly controlled optical properties, multiple colours, and specular reflections are of particular interest. The properties of plasmonic metasurfaces are usually fixed by physical configuration (design) such as the chemical composition of the material, shape, size, and periodicity. Designing metamaterial with dynamic and tunable properties in the UV to NIR range that can reversibly change size or composition could have a transformative impact on the field of plasmonic and inspire a range of new applications.
The PhD project will explore processes and methods for controlling reversibly plasmonic behavior by using electrochemistry, physical and chemical deposition, nanolithography, etc . Development of bimetallic and metal-dielectric metasurfaces by changing their chemical composition, configuration (overlayers, random and phase separated alloys), dielectric properties, and geometry (size, shape and spatial ordering) will be aided by theoretical modelling and numerical Finite difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. The PhD project will include applications of designed structures in the areas of surface-enhanced (electro)catalysis, bio-sensing and nanoscale control over chemical reactions by ‘hot electrons’ generated by surface plasmon excitations.
Candidate requirements:
Candidates should have completed an undergraduate degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) in Physics or equivalent. Chemistry knowledge is desirable.
How to apply:
Please make an online application for this project at http://www.bris.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply. Please select Physics (PhD) on the Programme Choice page. You will be prompted to enter details of the studentship in the Funding and Research Details sections of the form. Please make sure you include the title of studentship and the contact supervisor in your Personal Statement.
Contacts: Dr Natasa Vasiljevic ([Email Address Removed]) and Dr Andrei Sarua ([Email Address Removed])
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