[Neutron] Open PhD position at department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University.

[Paul Henry]

Open PhD position at department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University.

Structural studies of transition metal oxides and porous materials by total scattering
using synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction

Project leader: Gunnar Svensson (gunnar.svensson at mmk.su.se<mailto:gunnar.svensson at mmk.su.se>)
Subject: Inorganic chemistry

For more information please visit:
http://www.mmk.su.se/page.php?pid=896


Project description
Total scattering or pair distribution function (PDF) analysis utilises not only Bragg scattering
from a material to obtain the average long-range structure, but also the diffuse scattering to
study the local, or short-range structure in powder diffraction. The local short-range ordering
often affects the properties of a material. One such example is perovskite-related transition
metal oxides that have a wide range of applications from electrically tunable microwave
devices to electrodes in fuel cells. Another example is porous metal-organic frameworks, a
new class of materials with extraordinarily high surface areas (> 2 000m2/g), high porosity
and adjustable chemical functionality, which are important for gas separation and catalysis.
The present project will be focused on determining disorder and local structure in solids by
analysis of total scattering, i.e. by the PDF, and acquiring competence in this field. This PhD
project is a part of the “Röntgen-Ångström Cluster” framework program (http://www.rontgenangstrom<http://www.rontgenangstrom/>.
eu/) held jointly by Uppsala and Stockholm University to build a consortium C3 for
crystal chemistry. The general aim of the framework program is to increase the use and
competence of synchrotron- and neutron-based diffraction for technologically important
materials. The candidate will collaborate with several materials synthesis groups at Stockholm
University and Uppsala University. Powder diffraction data will foremost be collected by
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synchrotron powder diffraction, for example at PETRA III in Hamburg, and when needed
complemented by neutron powder diffraction and in-house diffractometry. The experiments
will cover measurements at ambient conditions, high and low temperatures, and in special in
situ cells, e.g. to investigate the crystal growth and structure transformation of metal-organic
frameworks or the structural response of materials to magnetic/electrical fields. The
successful candidate should have a strong collaborative and communication skill and be selfmotivated.
Good knowledge on computers is desired.

Last day of application: 20 nov 2012.

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