Register now After registration you will be able to apply for this opportunity online.
This opportunity is not published. No applications will be accepted.
Raman spectroscopy of Si nanoparticles
One interesting property of nanoparticles is their phononic structure, which can be investigated with Raman spectroscopy. Here The goal is to measure the Raman response of single Si nanoparticles of
different diameters.
Silicon nanoparticles are interesting scatterers in the optical regime due to their high refractive
index, giving rise to the rich physics of Mie scattering for rather small particle diameters [1]. While
the synthesis of Si nanoparticles of high quality has been challenging until recently, these materials
are now available and can be investigated and put to use by the photonics community [2]. One
interesting property of these nanoparticles is their phononic structure, which can be investigated with Raman spectroscopy [3].
The goal of this semester project is to measure the Raman response of single Si nanoparticles of
different diameters. You will collect statistics to understand the distribution of Raman frequencies
and their distribution in the ensemble in order to draw conclusions about the particles’ mechanical
properties. During the project, you will get acquainted with a state-of-the-art confocal micro-Raman
setup [4]. You should have a solid understanding of optics and solid state physics and a strong
interest in spectroscopy and microscopy. Furthermore, you should have a quantitative approach and
be a critical and independent thinker who enjoys to contribute to a larger research effort of a team.
References:
[1] Sugimoto et al., Adv. Opt. Mat. 8, 200033
[2] Thiessen et al., Chem. of Mat. 31, 678
[3] Russell, Appl. Phys. Lett. 6, 223
[4] Tschannen et al., Nano Lett. 20, 6750
Prerequisites:
Good knowledge of and strong interest in optics and electronics, practical lab skills,
quantitative approach.
Silicon nanoparticles are interesting scatterers in the optical regime due to their high refractive index, giving rise to the rich physics of Mie scattering for rather small particle diameters [1]. While the synthesis of Si nanoparticles of high quality has been challenging until recently, these materials are now available and can be investigated and put to use by the photonics community [2]. One interesting property of these nanoparticles is their phononic structure, which can be investigated with Raman spectroscopy [3]. The goal of this semester project is to measure the Raman response of single Si nanoparticles of different diameters. You will collect statistics to understand the distribution of Raman frequencies and their distribution in the ensemble in order to draw conclusions about the particles’ mechanical properties. During the project, you will get acquainted with a state-of-the-art confocal micro-Raman setup [4]. You should have a solid understanding of optics and solid state physics and a strong interest in spectroscopy and microscopy. Furthermore, you should have a quantitative approach and be a critical and independent thinker who enjoys to contribute to a larger research effort of a team.
References: [1] Sugimoto et al., Adv. Opt. Mat. 8, 200033 [2] Thiessen et al., Chem. of Mat. 31, 678 [3] Russell, Appl. Phys. Lett. 6, 223 [4] Tschannen et al., Nano Lett. 20, 6750
Prerequisites: Good knowledge of and strong interest in optics and electronics, practical lab skills, quantitative approach.