PhD Positions for Zero Power Sensors, ETH Zurich, Switzerland (2016)

The Chair of Micro and Nanosystems pursues – among others – research on the field of carbon nanotube sensors and thermoelectric devices www.micro.mavt.ethz.ch We are looking for both research areas for prospective PhD Students for Zero Power Sensors

The objective of the project on carbon nanotube (CNT) sensors is the integration of CNTs in a ultra low-power sensor system for environmental monitoring. The research shall Focus on signal evaluation, signal processing and noise reduction of suspended single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) field effect transistor devices that exploit substantial changes in the electronic transport properties of the carbon nanotube manifested upon exposure to specific chemical analytes (e.g. NO2). Device fabrication and integration in sensor arrays, analog circuit design and concepts of multivariate data analysis are aspects of the research.

The objective of the project on thermoelectric (TE) devices is the integration of nanostructured TE materials for the generation of electric power from temperature differences around room temperature. Starting from conventional concepts of Peltier thermo-couples, the project shall explore the potential of nanostructured materials w/r to large area integration and reproducible performance indicators. The combination of ultra low-power CNT sensors and new TE devices may yield zero power sensor systems, i.e. sensors, which harvest energy from the environment and do not need batteries or power supplies.

The research requires working in semiconductor clean rooms, e.g. in the Binning and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center (BRNC), a joint cleanroom of ETH Zurich and IBM Research. The PhD applicants shall have experience in semiconductor processing, circuit design and system integration. Additionally it is expected that the PhD student contributes to teaching, administrative and operational tasks of the Chair. Admission and acceptance of an applicant as a PhD student or doctoral candidate at ETH Zurich depends on the fulfillment of all pre-requisites and regulations of ETH Zurich https://www.ethz.ch/en/doctorate.html .

The candidate holds a Diploma or Master of Science degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, physics or material science. She or he has substantial experience in micro or nanosystems, semiconductor process technology, circuit design and electrical / thermal characterization, based on a student thesis in the field. The candidate’s scientific record demonstrates already excellence by a minimum of one first author journal publication or a conference contribution.

For more information, please visit:
http://academicpositions.eu