This 3 year project concerns proof-of-principle experiments to determine whether a suspended graphene membrane can be used to produce a sensitive neutral particle detector. The project will involve constructing a mass-selected cluster ion beam to test the response of graphene membranes in UHV to mass-selected species. The experiments will allow the detection principle and also the detection limit of the sensor to be tested as well as any necessary restrictions on particle velocity or constituents. Mass selected neutral particles (e.g. fullerenes) will then be used to demonstrate neutral particle detection. The neutral particle detector can be combined with fs laser ablation of nanoparticles to obtain depth profiling, thus allowing both the mass of neutral particles and their elemental make-up to be determined. The project will be carried out in collaboration with theoretical and experimental groups based in Sweden and Korea.
You should have, or be expecting to achieve, a first or upper second class Honours degree, or equivalent, in chemistry, physics or chemical physics.

Please address informal enquiries to Prof. Eleanor Campbell (eleanor.campbell(a)ed.ac.uk). For the formal application procedure see: www.chem.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate_research/apply.html

Position is fully funded for UK citizens (or students who have spent at least 3 years in the UK).