Français
English
Team leader : Sébastien Duguay
Team members : E. Talbot (MCF), P. Pareige (PR), S. Duguay (MCF), R. Lardé (MCF), R. Demoulin (MCF), E. Cadel (IR), C. Castro (IR)
Our research activities focus on the analysis of materials for optics (structure-properties correlation) and on cathodoluminescence measurements.
Our activities on P/N doping of silicon nanocrystals dispersed in a silica matrix aim at better understanding the fundamental mechanisms operating at the nanoscale. The study of the influence of the elaboration process and the annealing required for the growth of nanocrystals and the diffusion/activation of dopants is at the heart of our concerns with the objective of correlating them to optical properties. Particular attention is paid to the strong doping with earth-rare ions, a promising technique because they present very fine light emissions allowing a strong selectivity according to the desired application. However, as the optical properties are strongly dependent on the host matrices and the dopant concentrations, only fine scale analyses, using tomographic atomic probes, allow a better understanding of the mechanisms involved. Our projects concern both materials for photo-voltaic (thin films) and optical fibers.
On photovoltaic materials, our work is traditionally oriented on the link between the optical performances of the cells and their structure at the atomic scale. Our experimental approaches by atomic probe and transmission electron microscopy are now complemented by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy implemented on a scanning electron microscope. We will take advantage of this acquisition to develop new skills in optical characterization and to deepen our correlative studies between nanostructures and optical properties.