The Challenge
Transparent conductive oxides such as indium tin oxide (ITO)represent a highly promising material platform for nanophotonics, uniquelycombining optical transparency, electrical conductivity, and tunable opticalproperties. Through careful control of deposition parameters andpost-fabrication treatments, key material characteristics can be engineeredover a wide range, making ITO attractive for a variety of advanced photonicapplications. However, achieving targeted material performance remains challengingdue to the strong sensitivity of ITO to processing conditions. Variations indeposition and post-processing can significantly affect carrier concentration,electrical conductivity, optical losses, and the position of theepsilon-near-zero (ENZ) region. Furthermore, nanopatterning ITO intometasurface architectures offers a powerful additional degree of freedom fortailoring light-matter interactions, while simultaneously altering thematerial's optical and electrical properties. Developing a comprehensive understandingof how fabrication, post-processing, and nanoscale structuring jointly governthe optical response of ITO therefore remains a key challenge fornext-generation photonic and metasurface technologies.
What You Will Do
In this MSc thesis/internship project, you willexperimentally investigate the fabrication and nanoscale engineering of ITOthin films. The project will focus on studying the dependencies betweenprocessing conditions, material properties, and optical performance through acombination of thin-film deposition, post-processing, nanopatterning, andmaterial characterization.
You will:
Your experimental work will be complemented by dataanalysis, allowing you to identify and understand the relationships betweenfabrication conditions, nanoscale structuring, and the resulting optical andelectronic properties of ITO. In addition, you will have the opportunity towork in an international research environment, collaborating with experiencedresearchers and engineers while receiving valuable guidance throughout yourscientific development.
What You Should Bring Along
You are a motivated and curious MSc student with a passionfor hands-on experimental research. You have a background in nanoscience,engineering, physics, materials science, chemistry, or a related field. Priorexperience with laboratory work, materials characterization, data analysis, orscientific programming is an asset. You are eager to learn, enjoy challenges,and possess strong communication skills and a good command of English.
Type of internship: Master internship
Duration: minimal duration of 6 months
Required educational background: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Physics, Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering, Electromechanical engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
University promotor: Jan Genoe (KU Leuven)
Supervising scientist(s): For further information or for application, please contact Gokhan Kara (< correo electrónico eliminado por razones de seguridad >)
The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-287. Mention this reference code in your application.
Imec allowance will be provided for students studying at a non-Belgian university.
Applications should include the following information:
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Transparent conductive oxides such as indium tin oxide (ITO)represent a highly promising material platform for nanophotonics, uniquelycombining optical transparency, electrical conductivity, and tunable opticalproperties. Through careful control of deposition parameters andpost-fabrication treatments, key material characteristics can be engineeredover a wide range, making ITO attractive for a variety of advanced photonicapplications. However, achieving targeted material performance remains challengingdue to the strong sensitivity of ITO to processing conditions. Variations indeposition and post-processing can significantly affect carrier concentration,electrical conductivity, optical losses, and the position of theepsilon-near-zero (ENZ) region. Furthermore, nanopatterning ITO intometasurface architectures offers a powerful additional degree of freedom fortailoring light-matter interactions, while simultaneously altering thematerial's optical and electrical properties. Developing a comprehensive understandingof how fabrication, post-processing, and nanoscale structuring jointly governthe optical response of ITO therefore remains a key challenge fornext-generation photonic and metasurface technologies.
What You Will Do
In this MSc thesis/internship project, you willexperimentally investigate the fabrication and nanoscale engineering of ITOthin films. The project will focus on studying the dependencies betweenprocessing conditions, material properties, and optical performance through acombination of thin-film deposition, post-processing, nanopatterning, andmaterial characterization.
You will:
- Study the influence of deposition parameters onthe optical and electrical properties of ITO thin films
- Investigate post-processing treatments fortailoring carrier concentration, conductivity, and optical response
- Characterize the morphological, optical, andelectrical properties of ITO
- Explore nanopatterning processes using lithographyand assess how nanoscale structuring influences material performance
Your experimental work will be complemented by dataanalysis, allowing you to identify and understand the relationships betweenfabrication conditions, nanoscale structuring, and the resulting optical andelectronic properties of ITO. In addition, you will have the opportunity towork in an international research environment, collaborating with experiencedresearchers and engineers while receiving valuable guidance throughout yourscientific development.
What You Should Bring Along
You are a motivated and curious MSc student with a passionfor hands-on experimental research. You have a background in nanoscience,engineering, physics, materials science, chemistry, or a related field. Priorexperience with laboratory work, materials characterization, data analysis, orscientific programming is an asset. You are eager to learn, enjoy challenges,and possess strong communication skills and a good command of English.
Type of internship: Master internship
Duration: minimal duration of 6 months
Required educational background: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Physics, Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering, Electromechanical engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
University promotor: Jan Genoe (KU Leuven)
Supervising scientist(s): For further information or for application, please contact Gokhan Kara (< correo electrónico eliminado por razones de seguridad >)
The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-287. Mention this reference code in your application.
Imec allowance will be provided for students studying at a non-Belgian university.
Applications should include the following information:
- resume
- motivation
- current study
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
