PhD in Physics - Realising Novel high-pressure superconductors at ambient pressure

The quest for room-temperature superconductivity was recently galvanised by the discovery of superconductivity at 203 K in highly compressed SH3. It is now 50 years since Neil Ashcroft predicted that compressed hydrogen (and hydrogen-rich compounds) would metallise and superconduct near 300 K. But the required pressures, exceeding 1 million bar, render such materials impractical. The challenge is how to stabilise superconductivity in these materials under ambient pressures.

This project meets that challenge by ion-implantation in a substrate, annealing to form nanoparticles and using the induced stress of the host matrix to apply pressure to the resultant superconducting nanoparticles. Techniques of ion implantation will be learned in the laboratory, as will use of PPMS and MPMS, x-ray diffraction and basic materials preparation. The project will likely require synchrotron studies and DFT computational studies of the matrix-embedded nanoparticles.

This is a project that will expose the PhD student to many MI researchers and international collaborators, and to many different techniques both experimental and theoretical.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr James Storey at the Robinson Research Institute [1] at Victoria University of Wellington, in the coolest little capital city in the world – Wellington, New Zealand. They will also be a part of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology [2], a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence made up of a nation-wide network of materials science and nanotechnology researchers.

Applicants should have a physics degree equivalent to the 4-year BSc (Honours) degree in New Zealand, with 1st class Honours, or an MSc or postgraduate Diploma with high grades. A background in condensed matter physics, materials science or similar is required, as well as being comfortable working in a team and good communication skills. The ideal candidate will have Basic knowledge of superconductivity and/or electronic properties of solid-state or condensed matter materials; ideally some experience in cryogenic techniques and demonstrated capability in computational modelling. Candidates should satisfy the requirements for admission as a PhD candidate at Victoria University and ensure that they can satisfy the English language requirements.

For information on the MacDiarmid Institute and details of the scholarship, see http://macdiarmid.ac.nz/current-phd-studentships/
Links:
[1] Robinson Research Institute https://www.victoria.ac.nz/robinson
[2] MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology http://macdiarmid.ac.nz/
[3] MacDiarmid Emerging Scientists’ Association http://mesa.ac.nz/