Photonic Accelerators: Driving Innovation in Quantum Simulations
Photonic circuits, specialised low-power processors, are emerging as one of the most promising technologies for accelerating the execution of complex algorithms in the fields of machine learning and scientific computing, while maintaining low heat dissipation.
The success of simulating quantum systems and implementing quantum-inspired simulation algorithms on photonic units suggests the potential of these accelerators to advance computing capabilities in the fields of computational chemistry and materials science.
The aim of this project is to integrate photonic technologies with neural and tensor networks, pushing back the limits of quantum simulations and classical devices. This is a promising direction for the future of hardware-accelerated, specialised algorithmic innovation.
This research will focus on adapting algorithms to photonic devices, optimising energy consumption and developing new algorithms inspired by the specificities of hardware.
Optimization of Li metal/electrolyte for the next generation of all-solid-state battery
CEA Tech Nouvelle-Aquitaine, created in 2013, set up a new laboratory, since more than two years, focused on both the development of materials and the high throughput screening to accelerate the discovery of materials for the next generations of Li-ion batteries. For that, the CEA Tech Nouvelle-Aquitaine acquires different vacuum deposition equipment (sputtering, evaporation, atomic layer deposition) integrated in glovebox and different automated characterization techniques (SEM-EDX, profilometer, XRD, LIBS and confocal microscope later).
The Li metal/electrolyte interface constitutes one of the main challenges to overcome for the next generation of all-solid-state battery. The reactions of decompositions at the interface associated to uneven plating/stripping of Li ions lead to quick cell failure. One of the avenue for stabilizing it is to use a protective layer, which must feature numerous physical-chemical properties. In this context, this internal CEA project aims at setting up a combinatorial synthesis methodology associated to high throughput characterizations in order to accelerate the discovery of new protective layers at the Li metal/electrolyte interface.
We are seeking for an outstanding applicant who will be in charge of setting up the whole methodology, from the synthesis to the physical-chemical-electrochemical characterizations of the materials. She/he will have at her disposal a new state-of-the-art infrastructures. She/he will collaborate with other CEA labs located at LITEN (Grenoble, France).
Attack detection in the electrical grid distributed control
To enable the emergence of flexible and resilient energy networks, we need to find solutions to the challenges facing these networks, in particular digitization and the protection of data flows that this will entail, and cybersecurity issues.
In the Tasting project, and in collaboration with RTE, the French electricity transmission network operator, your role will be to analyze data protection for all parties involved. The aim is to verify security properties on data in distributed systems, taking into account that those induce a number of uncertainties.
To this end, you will develop a tool-based methodology for protecting the data of power grid stakeholders. The approach will be based on formal methods, in particular runtime verification, applied to a distributed control system.
This postdoc position is part of the TASTING project, which aims to meet the key challenges of modernizing and securing power systems. This 4-year project, which started in 2023, addresses axis 3 of the PEPR TASE call “Technological solutions for the digitization of intelligent energy systems”, co-piloted by CEA and CNRS, which aims to generate innovations in the fields of solar energy, photovoltaics, floating wind power and for the emergence of flexible and resilient energy networks. The targeted scientific challenges concern the ICT infrastructure, considered as a key element and solution provider for the profound transformations that our energy infrastructures will undergo in the decades to come.
The project involves two national research organizations, INRIA and CEA through its technological research institute CEA-List. Also involved are 7 academic laboratories: G2Elab, GeePs, IRIT, L2EP, L2S and SATIE, as well as an industrial partner, RTE, which is supplying various use cases.
Correlative X-ray and ToF-SIMS tomography Data fusion of 3-D data sets from X-ray and ToF-SIMS tomography
The nanocaracterisation platform of the CEA Grenoble has recently installed 2 state-of-the-art tools for 3-D imaging with 100 nm resolution: X-ray tomography in a SEM and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) assisted by focused ion milling (FIB). X-ray tomography delivers non-invasive 3-D images of the internal morphology of an object whilst ToF-SIMS is able to map the local composition in 3-D. We aim to combine the two techniques to perform quantitative 3-D investigations of objects such as copper pillars for microelectronics or silicon electrodes for Li battery applications.
The proposed research subject is data analysis orientated. Some simulation work may be performed to implement and test existing 3-D data fusion methods with a view to adapting and improving them. The candidate will assist with the experimental measurements and be responsible for treating the data with the chosen protocols. The candidate should be pragmatic, at ease with applied mathematics and have good programming skills. These will be essential in understanding and manipulating the fusion and reconstruction algorithms, from the simplest, to the increasingly advanced (prior information, superiorisation, Bayesian fusion)
The candidate will have completed a PhD in physics and have good computer (Python, Matlab, C) and image treatment skills, or a PhD in mathematics/computational science with an interest in applications. The candiate will need to interface with a multidisciplinary team, and be receptive to new ideas. The candidate will be proficient in both written and spoken English in order to communicate with the team and to disseminate their results in articles or at conferences.
Electro-optical characterisation for Vis-IR active devices
With the Integration of Heterogeneous Components Department, the Lab of Technologies and Components for Visualisation (DIHS/LTCV) develops OLED devices. One of its main topics is aimed at producing hybrid OLEDs, hybrid standing for the mix of deposition techniques : wet and evaporation. Target applications come from micro displays to photodetectors via lighting.
For the development of hybrid OLEDs, DIHS/LTCV lab is looking for a Post_doc specialised in Organic Electronic to work in a fundamental research project. You will be in charge of stack development and of the characterisation method development for OLEDs devices.The optimisation of the cavity will be done based on the physical parameters of the different layers.
At the same time, IV, CV and photoluminescence analyses will be adapted in visible and IR range.
Finally, the layers interface study by impedance spectroscopy and Hall effect will be done.
New nanostructurated fluorescent materials for the detection of volatile organic compounds.
The presence in indoor environments of many substances and (geno-)toxic, allergenic and infectious agents with pathogenic effects is well known. The on-site detection of these
substances has become a strong need, related to public health concerns. To respond to this need and enable the development of sensitive and selective ’field-deployable chemical sensors’, different technological solutions are being considered (conductimetric, electrochemical, piezoelectric, electro-mechanical, optical based systems…). Among all these methods, those based on the use of fluorescence phenomena are particularly interesting because of the inherently high sensitivity (lower limit of detection) of the technique and the possibility it offers to develop low cost, small size and low
energy consuming devices.
The proposal falls into this context and aims at evaluating the potentialities of new nanostructurated organic materials for the detection of indoor air trace pollutants by fluorescence change monitoring. This work will be done in straight collaboration with the Laboratoire Chimie des Polymères (UMR7610-CNRS/UPMC Paris VI) specialized in the synthesis
of functionalized organogels. More precisely, we propose to develop new highly porous supramolecular materials serving either as substrate for the sensitive fluorescent polymer or functionalised so as to directly detect and recognize the vapor pollutant.
The physico-chemical properties of these new materials will be examined by different techniques. Their performances in the presence of target pollutants (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde) and potentially interferants will be evaluated. Finally, the most interesting materials will be integrated into a functional prototype.
Developement of a simulation platform for the energy systems
The evolution of power systems towards smart-grids, including a high share of renewable generation which can be combined with storage systems, lead to an increased complexity for designing and optimizing these systems. This leads to a need for new modeling and simulation tools, which have to manage different energy sources, different energy vectors and different technologies for energy conversion. Moreover, such simulation tools will be used to optimize the system sizing and to design energy management strategies.
The objective of this project is to design the software architecture for the simulation platform, which will be in ad equation to the previously mentioned needs. Such software will be organized in order to maximize the transfer towards industrial partners. The software will be able to support multi-energy systems, and will leave the possibility for the user to implement its own component models or energy management strategies.
The project is focused on the simulation platform architecture, and on the architecture model. This architecture will be used as a base for the development of a software. The objective of the given project is not to cover all the applications but rather to validate the architecture through a given application.
Development and characterization of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) receivers for high-efficiency CPV modules
Concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) arises as a promising technology capable of economically justify the use of highly efficient (and highly expensive) monolithically stacked multijunction solar cells (MJSC). CPV takes advantage of low-cost optical elements, such as mirrors or lenses, to capture the sunlight and concentrate it into small-size cells, exchanging solar cell surface by optical elements. This technology, which is at an industrial stage, uses state-of-the-art triple junction (3J) solar cells with efficiencies up to 45%.
The postdoc position here proposed will deal with novel architectures of CPV receivers conceived from high-efficiency MJSC that will be integrated in next-generation CPV modules. The research engineer will also need to learn how to characterize these systems, for which he/she will use the tools available at the CPV Lab at INES (CEA). Novel characterization techniques may also be required.
The candidate must have a M.S. in Physics or Engineer with specialization on solid state physics, electronics, electrical engineering, mechatronics or similar. He/she must be a PhD, preferably in the field of photovoltaics and particularly on CPV. Good language skills and laboratory experience are required.
Development of new processes for the fabrication of advanced interconnect structures of solar cells
The fabrication of solar cells with high performances at a reduced cost is a key challenge addressed by many research institutions and industrials worldwide. Many technological solutions are being investigated. Among them, a promising approach consists in forming narrower metal lines to limit shadowing of active areas of the cells. This work aims at replacing serigraphy by new fabrication processes able to reduce line width. For this purpose, the conducting substrate is coated by an insulating mask in which the lines are defined. The metal is then directly plated selectively onto the weakly conducting portions of the substrate, i.e. the lines, using electrolytic reactions. The process conditions will be adapted with regard to the nature of the initial conducting surfaces.
Production of green hydrogen and ammonia from offshore energy
This subject is dedicated to the high potential of offshore wind power in the high seas, where it seems extremely complicated and expensive to install an electric transmission to a continental grid. In addition, the IMO, a United Nation agency that is responsible for environmental impacts of ships, adopted ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from marine shipping. The IMO plan regulates carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions from ships and requires shipping companies to halve their GHG emissions by 2050 (compared to 2008 levels).
Different ways are being explored in order to identify the best low-carbon fuel that will be able to power new marine propulsion systems without GHC emissions (and others polluants like Sox, Nox…).
Hydrogen combined with a fuel cell is a good option for small application (fishing boat…). However, issues associated with hydrogen storage and distribution (low energy density) are currently a barrier for its implementation for large and massive marine application which drivess 80–90% global trade, moving over 10 billion tonnes of containers, solid and liquid bulk cargo across the world’s oceans annually.
Hence, other indirect storage media are currently being considered. Of these, ammonia is a carbon free carrier which offers high energy density. First studies and demonstration projects show that it could be used as a fuel coupled with a new generation of high-temperature fuel cells (SOFC) or internal combustion engines.
This project focuses on the green ammonia production on a high seas platform including an offshore wind farm that use renewable electricity to first generate hydrogen from water (via electrolysis) and nitrogen from air and then combine both in a Haber-Bosch process to synthesize ammonia. The objective is to develop modeling tools (Modelica / Dymola environment) in order to build, simulate and optimize "wind to ammonia" systems and energy management solutions to minimize the production cost of ammonia.