PhD student position: Liquid Crystals

The successful candidate will work in a novel and very intensive field of liquid crystal research, and will be challenged to explore the physics and the application potential of a new type of liquid crystal – the ferroelectric nematic.

Project description
The simplest form of liquid crystal – nematic – is a non-polar orientationally ordered liquid. It is strongly stimuli-responsive and foremost utilized in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) for TVs, smartphones, laptops, and other electronic applications.

In 2020, the first example of a nematic phase with spontaneous polar order was identified. At that moment the more than 100 years old paradigm of the non-polar nature of nematic liquid crystals broke down, and the old truth that spontaneous polarization and ferroelectricity in liquid crystals require lower symmetry, layered (smectic) phases was overturned. The new ferroelectric nematic (NF) phase has rapidly gained an enormous attention, also outside the liquid crystal community. The spontaneous electric polarization provides new functionalities, with possible applications in for example photonics, electronics, and sensor technology, but maybe also for energy harvesting and storage devices.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student that wants to pursue forefront experimental research on ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals, with the aim to further increase the knowledge about the mechanisms behind their formation and their phase behavior. From an applicational point of view, the understanding of the interplay between NF materials and bounding surfaces, is of special importance. Depending on the progress and evolution of the research activities, the work could also involve exploring ferroelectric nematic structures for energy harvesting and storage applications. The hired PhD student is encouraged to, and will have the possibility, to also bring in his/her own research ideas into the work.

The work will take place in an international environment and will include collaboration with European and American groups. It involves formulation of research questions, design of experiments, clean-room manufacturing, sample assembly and characterization in measurement labs.

Classic non-polar nematic liquid crystals once revolutionized display technology - where will the polar ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal take us? 

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibilities are to pursue your doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing. The position generally also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 percent of working hours.

Your work will involve and requires extensive hands-on activities in the , where you will create various types of organic and inorganic surface layers on solid substrates, and assemble/build various types of liquid crystal devices and test cells, using a large variety of different processing and analytic tools.

Optic and electrooptic studies using polarized light microscopy, and basic electronics equipment will be fundamental for the experimental work. Depending on the results and progress, you might further need to use dedicated experimental resources at other laboratories, abroad, or in Sweden. We expect you to show initiative by proactively developing and contributing with your own research ideas related to the advertised project.