One of this year's call "la Caixa" INPhINIT (MSCA COFUND) grants has been awarded to Mahel Voulhoux to come to the ICMAB to start his PhD Thesis with researchers Teresa Puig (from the SUMAN group at ICMAB) and Kapil Gupta (from ICN2) in the field of superconducting materials characterization.
"I am truly honored to receive the INPhINIT fellowship. I had been seeking a PhD focused on the manufacturing of high-temperature superconductors for fusion, driven by my commitment to addressing the environmental crisis" says Mahel.
"Discovering the SUMAN group, which perfectly matched my expectations, has been an incredible opportunity. I am delighted that this fellowship allows me to begin my PhD under excellent conditions, giving me the chance to grow as a researcher while contributing to the advancement of clean energy solutions" he adds.
The project
The title of Mahel's project will be "Transmission Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy Characterization of Ultrafast Grown High-Temperature Superconductors for Clean Energy".
This PhD project focuses on advancing High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS), which are a key technology for the next generation of clean energy through compact fusion reactors.
The SUMAN research group has recently developed an ultrafast growth method, Transient Liquid Assisted Growth (TLAG), capable of fabricating REBCO superconducting films more than 100 times faster than conventional techniques. The novelty of this research lies not only in developing faster fabrication routes but also in deeply understanding the relation between microstructure and superconducting performance.
Here, advanced Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) plays a central role. By using high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy techniques such as STEM, EELS and EDX, the project aims to unveil how epitaxial growth proceeds at ultrafast rates, how nanoscale defects and strain are introduced, influencing vortex pinning, and how oxygen distribution can be controlled to optimise charge carrier density.
This detailed structural and chemical insight will provide the missing link between processing, microstructure and superconducting properties, helping to transfer TLAG from the laboratory to industrial production.
About INPhINIT
"La Caixa" INPhINIT call offers 30 fellowships for pursuing PhD studies in STEM disciplines, including technology, engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, health, and life sciences. These Incoming Doctoral INPhINIT fellowships are aimed at candidates who wish to carry out their doctoral research at Spanish centres accredited with the Severo Ochoa or María de Maeztu Seal of Excellence by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Health Research Institutes accredited by Carlos III, or Portuguese R&D centres classified as "excellent" by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.
These institutions are internationally recognised for their scientific leadership, research impact, and active collaboration with the social and business sectors. The fellowships offer support for a maximum duration of four years, covering labour costs, research expenses, and doctoral tuition fees. In addition to financial support, fellows will benefit from an on-site multidisciplinary training programme, designed to enhance their skills and prepare them for impactful careers in research and innovation.
Read more
Doctoral INPhINIT fellowships Incoming - "la Caixa" Foundation
Three INPhINIT "la Caixa" Research Fellows will start their PhD at ICMAB on September 2017 (2017)
José Jurado, Milena Cervo and Jan Grzelak received their INPhINIT "la Caixa" fellowship at Caixaforum (2018)
Pol Sallés will start his PhD at the ICMAB with a "la Caixa" INPhINIT Doctoral Fellowship (2019)
