The EMAT electron microscopy research group and the Vision Lab at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, announce an open

Ph.D. position
on the theme
Bringing light atoms to light: precise characterization of light-atom nanostructures using scanning transmission electron microscopy

Project

These days, characterisation of light-atom nanostructures at the atomic scale becomes increasingly important because of their use in battery and energy storage materials. The properties of these materials are indeed controlled by the precise arrangement of all atoms including light atoms such as lithium and hydrogen. Therefore, the quest to design improved materials drives research to develop and apply novel methods enabling us to characterise light-atom nanostructures with ultimate precision. Aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) has shown the potential to image light atoms. However, since all physical interactions with the electron beam get weaker as the elements get lighter, detecting and precisely locating light atoms remain important challenges. The aim of this research project is to propose a unique combination of physics-based modelling and statistical methods to obtain maximal detectability and precision. This will allow us to precisely measure the structure of light-atom nanocrystals being a prerequisite for a further understanding of their unique materials properties. The main focus in this project will be the theoretical investigation of different STEM imaging modes and the development and implementation of new quantitative strategies to interpret the resulting images.

Tasks

• to acquire knowledge in the field of electron microscopy (image formation and electron-object interaction), statistical detection theory, and statistical parameter estimation theory
• to develop, implement, and apply (Matlab, C, or C++) new techniques to quantitatively analyse STEM images
• to discuss the results in terms of the expected performance of the technique and fundamental physical limitations
• to publish and present research results in the form of articles in international peer reviewed journals and papers at international conferences.

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