Site web ESPCI
SUJET DE STAGE DE MASTER
2ème année
Internship offer
Laboratory : Laboratoire de Physique et d’Etude des Matériaux (UMR 8213 - ESPCI ParisTech-
CNRS-UPMC)
Web site : http://www.lpem.espci.fr/spip.php?rubrique4
Director : R. Lobo
Address : ESPCI ParisTech, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris
Persons in charge of the internship : Dr. Brigitte Leridon (LPEM-ESPCI) / Dr. Clément Barraud
(Laboratoire MPQ (UMR 7162 - Université Paris Diderot))
Tel. : 01 40 79 51 62 (B. Leridon) / 01 57 27 61 42 (C. Barraud)
e-mail : 
& 
A quest in molecular electronics is to reduce electronic devices into a connected single molecule. In
the last decades, electrical functions such as diodes, optical switches and memories have been
demonstrated, using hybrid devices with molecules. Some fundamental questions however remain
concerning for instance charge and spin transport through the organic environment and especially
through the interfaces. Even more puzzling is the transport of Cooper pairs, when two superconductors
are coupled through a thin molecular layer.
In this project, we propose to experimentally study the quantum transport properties of hybrid
junctions3 embedding electro-grafted polythiophene molecules between two electrodes. Those two
electrodes will be either both superconducting or both ferromagnetic or superconducting and
ferromagnetic. The grafting process allows a strong chemical coupling between the molecule and the
metal. The deep impact of this coupling on the particle/charge/spin injection properties is one of the
subjects of this fundamental research.
The student will perform the microfabrication of the device ; from the photolithography process to the
thin film deposition of different materials (metal or semi conductor). The grafting process will be done
at the ITODYS lab (Dr. P. Martin from the NEC team). The student will then characterize the hybrid
heterostructures getting therefore accointed to different techniques : Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
at the MPQ laboratory, Superconducing Qantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometry at the
LPEM at ESPCI and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) at the ITODYS lab. Finally, the student
will be able to study the fundamental properties by measuring the transport through the heterostructure
at low temperatures (at about 2K) and under a variable magnetic field at the LPEM (ESPCI).
For this project, we are looking for an excellent and highly motivated student as the use of different
techniques in different labs requires to be polyvalent, quick-to-react, experiments-oriented and wellorganized.
A background in solid-state and quantum physics will be an asset.
Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
1 M. Ratner, Nat. Nanotechnol. 8, 378 (2013).
2 S. V Aradhya and L. Venkataraman, Nat. Nanotechnol. 8, 399 (2013).
3 T. Fluteau, C. Bessis, C. Barraud, M.L. Della Rocca, P. Martin, J.-C. Lacroix, and P. Lafarge, J. Appl.
Phys. 116, 114509 (2014).
Methods and techniques : micro-patterning (MPQ, ESPCI), SQUID magnetometry (ESPCI), low