Advanced technological applications demand high performance devices, which in turn require exceptional materials. Focussing on the fundamental materials research and development necessary to move this innovation beyond the laboratory to next-generation photonic devices and systems the group have already developed and patented an innovative technique towards purely fibre based systems.
A fibre based system is preferable as it avoids the use of heterogeneous, discrete optoelectronic components to transform in-fibre photonic signals to chip-based electronic signals which is complex and high in cost.
All PhD Projects:
Supervisory team: Dr Pier Sazio, Prof. Mike Zervas
The last few years have seen dramatic progress in the area of hollow fibres and in particular the development of a competing technology to photonic bandgap fibres based on a much simpler optical design, which are far easier to fabricate for both short and long wavelength transmission and have been demonstrated to have a greatly reduced overlap between the light travelling within the fibre and the silica forming the cladding. This novel form of hollow core optical waveguide is known as the anti-resonant fibre. In this PhD studentship, the candidate will investigate an innovative waveguide platform based on composite material hollow core fibres which are able not only to transmit optical signals with low attenuation over a broad wavelength range of operation, but can also actively manage and control the transmitted signals, through modulation, amplification or light generation and frequency conversion.
This ambitious project would thus be suitable for a bright, motivated candidate with a strong physics/materials/engineering related background to develop highly transferable skills in materials growth, advanced numerical modelling and fibre device characterisation whilst interacting with a wide range of experts leading in the field.
Supervisory team: Dr Pier Sazio, Dr Nikitas Papasimakis, Dr Ioannis Zeimpekis
Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted global interest for atomically thin next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices, opening up exciting opportunities for technological applications at the monolayer limit. Their extraordinary properties could revolutionise areas ranging from printed electronics to life sciences, imaging and quantum technologies to name just a few. However, the synthesis of these materials is often complex and capital intensive, relying mainly on vacuum based processing tools. In this PhD studentship, the candidate will contribute to the development of a facile, low cost system exploiting direct laser printing of 2D semiconductor based nanodevices. This new technology allows film patterning on various substrates, including flexible and curved, all processed under room temperature ambient conditions with instant spectroscopic feedback, making it highly suitable for neural network driven, scalable rapid prototyping and additive manufacture.
This AI driven project would thus be suitable for a highly motivated candidate with a strong physics/materials/engineering related background and programming abilities to develop highly transferable skills in cleanroom sample fabrication and electronic/photonic device characterisation, laser materials processing, numerical simulations and machine learning with input from industry partners and working with leading academic experts.
Supervisory Team: Dr Pier Sazio (ZI), Dr Matthew Potter (Chem), Dr Lindsay Armstrong (Eng)
A PhD position is available as part of a new Centre of Excellence called Light and Electrochemical Activated Processes for Chemical Industries (LEAP). The intention of LEAP is to coordinate the University of Southampton’s distinctive strengths in photonic materials and chemistry to tackle the challenge of decarbonising the chemical industry. The initiative brings together academics from Chemistry, Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and the Zepler Institute that will improve our fundamental understanding of these complex processes and develop engineered solutions that can be applied at scale.
As we transition towards a net-zero carbon future, there is a need to make chemical transformations more efficient. Thermally controlled processes that are ubiquitous in the chemical industry have an inherent inefficiency, regardless of how well macroscopic heat management demands are controlled. Photo/electrochemical technologies – reactions that are driven by light or directly by electricity - represent an alternative approach to produce both commodity and fine chemicals that have the potential to be significantly more efficient.
Photocatalysis in particular represents a unique opportunity to efficiently transform free solar photons into a versatile form of ‘chemical energy’ that can be used for energy storage (e.g. maritime transportation, grid-energy storage) or the production of commodity chemicals (e.g. ammonia, methanol). This studentship project builds on our successful recent development of photocatalytic reactors using optical fibre technologies (e.g. ACS Photonics, 2020, 7, 714-722). Specifically, we will leverage the highly advanced and scalable photonics technologies developed at the Zepler Institute in order to precisely engineer photonic states coupled with optimal structuring and management of light with photocatalysts inside our state of the art reactor designs. This will require significant numerical simulation effort to guide experimental fabrication alongside in-depth optical characterization and optimisation.
This multifaceted project targets the development of an all-in-one photoreactor described using multi-phase chemical models to incorporate the kinetics of photocatalysts, reactant flow and photon behaviour. It is thus supported by a highly multidisciplinary team with expertise in photonic devices (Dr Pier Sazio) and modelling alongside material deposition (Dr Geoff Hyett), photocatalyst design and development (Dr Matt Potter) and multi-phase chemical models (Dr. Lindsay Armstrong) to realise these advanced systems.