Expérimental et théorique
Ph.D. project – Within the European doctoral network “CoCoGel,” a Ph.D. position is available at École Normale Supérieure de Lyon in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Holcim to investigate in more detail the impact of electric field on the rheological properties of colloidal gels with an Electro-rheological device. Experiments will consist in determining the system response to an electric field through mechanical measurements (rheology) and structural characterization (X-ray scattering). The candidate will perform a comprehensive study of the impact of shear history on suspensions of model colloidal gels submitted to an external electric field, investigating different types of pre-shear history in the presence of a static electric field. The goal will be to find synergies between the electric field and the shear history to make gels with “on-demand microstructural properties” relevant to fabricating soft precursors involved in synthesizing solid electrolytes at SUNLIGHT. The project will also explore some applications of the above concepts to building materials. In particular, the candidate will spend about one year at the Holcim Innovation Center using electric fields to control and tune the flow properties of cement pastes.