Physics

Joint doctoral programme with the University of Southern Denmark (coordinating institution: Kaunas University of Technology)

Double degree programme with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan

Possibilities to attain European PhD (Doctor Europeus) in partnership with PCAM (Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials Network)

Objective of doctoral studies in Physics is the development of highly qualified researchers in the field of physics, who are able to conduct scientific research for solution of critical problems.
This joint doctoral programme provides doctoral students with competences and knowledge in the areas of condensed matter, interaction of radiation and matter, optical spectroscopy; the programme offers a wide range of topics and general experimental and theoretical research in the areas of meso, micro and nano structures, photonic structures, including their formation, analysis and application in plasmonics, bio sensors and alternative energy. Research involves the use of new functional materials, modern technologies (electron-beam lithography, reactive plasma etching, and holographic lithography) and progressive research methods (spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, ultra-rapid process spectroscopy, etc.).

Topic title	Possible scientific supervisors	Source of funding
Development and research of sustainable micro(nano)-derivative traps	doc. dr. Judita Puišo	state-funded
Graphene direct synthesis, atudy of the charge transfer and doping processes, and application for sensors	vyr.m.d. dr. Šarūnas Meškinis	state-funded	Research Topic Summary. Graphene is a 2D nanocarbon material, carbon atomic hexagons monolayer. It is at the top of the significant interest due to the giant electron and hole mobility, charge carrier multiplication, flexibility, optical transparency, chemical inertness and other outstanding properties. One of the possible applications of the graphene is use of the graphene in Schottky contacts instead of the metal. Due to the very high mobilities the graphene can be used as a channel layer in field effect transistors and transistor based biosensors. Till now graphene was usually synthesized by chemical vapor deposition of the graphene on catalytic Cu, Ni, Co foils. Afterward, the long process of the graphene transfer onto the targeted semiconductor or dielectric substrates was used. It is a complex and time consuming procedure. Control of the graphene/semiconductor contact and graphene nanolayer properties are complicated in such a case. In present study graphene will be directly synthesized on the dielectric surface by plasma assisted processes. Effects of the graphene structure on characteristics of the sensors will be studied. The charge transfer and self-doping processes will be investigated. The relation between properties of the synthesized graphene layer and characteristics of the graphene-based sensors will be studied.
The Mechanisms of Mass Transfer Processes and phase Transitinos during Plasma nitriding and carburizing of Metal Alloys	prof. habil. dr. Arvaidas Galdikas	state-funded
The formation and characterization of metal doped diamond-like carbon films	prof. dr. Liutauras Marcinauskas	state-funded	Research Topic Summary. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) film as an effective protective coating has been extensively studied for more than two decades, due to the outstanding properties such as low friction coefficient, high wear resistance or chemical inertness, biocompatibility and optical transparency. Doping metal elements (Zr or Cr) into diamond-like carbon (DLC) films can improve the mechanical and tribological properties, but the preparation and commercialized application of metal (Zr Cr) doped DLC films with well-defined structure and required mechanical and tribological properties are currently hindered by the non-comprehensive understanding of structural evolutions under different magnetron sputtering parameters, used metal types or concentration.
The investigation and formation of thin-film structures used in medium temperature solid-state oxide fuel cells	prof. dr. Giedrius Laukaitis	state-funded	Research Topic Summary. Extensive research for new functional materials increasing the efficiency of fuel cells and leading to practical use of these materials are performed there. KOKE operating temperature, structural dimensions, and price can be reduced by applying the materials that are used for manufacturing electrolytes (ZrO2/Y2O3, CeO2/Gd2O3, etc.), and in order to reduce the thickness of electrolyte to 1-2 µm. The main goal of this work is to find new solutions to produce thin-film SOFC with a focus on the currently existing for the new architectures. This research will aim to select the best materials, synthesizing not in a group of analyzed lanthanum strontium gallium magnesium oxide (LSGM) La0.80Sr0.20Ga0.80Mg0.20O3-X and technologies and the influence of technological parameters on the formation of SOFC heterostructures, which will allow improving the efficiency of such fuel cells. The research objects of the work are: a) the influence of impurities on the properties of the layers; the influence of the composition and technological parameters on the ionic properties of the layers; b) the influence of charge carrier diffusion coefficient and their mobility on ionic properties. Thin ionic layers will be formed using physical vacuum technology. The goal of the survey is to find out and control the physical, chemical, and other properties of thin layers and, on the basis of research, to determine the practical application of such systems.
Light-activated sensors based on metal oxide nanoparticle investigation	vyr.m.d. dr. Simas Račkauskas	state-funded	Research Topic Summary. In this work, the surface of metal oxide nanoparticles (ZnO, CuO) will be functionalized (with nanoparticles, graphene, maxene) in order to obtain room temperature light-activated sensors. Their physical properties, such as the change of the barrier layer due to exposure to light and surface adsorption, will be investigated. Semiconducting metal oxide nanowires are widely used in sensors due to their tunable electron transport properties and high surface-to-volume ratio. Nanowire sensors have previously been shown to have much higher stability compared to other nanoparticle counterparts. High sensitivity and stability can be obtained by integrating many nanowires, the diameter of the nanowire has a great influence on the performance of the sensor. However, metal oxide gas sensors require high operating temperatures (typically 300–500 °C), but their limited selectivity for similar gases limits their application in real-world situations. Light activation has been shown to be an alternative to heat activation, opening room temperature sensor measurement possibilities, but with lower sensitivity and selectivity compared to heating activation. ZnO nanowires are often used for chemiresistive sensing due to their many advantages, such as high sensing response and long-term stability. Among other structures, ZnO tetrapods (a structure composed of 4 connected nanowires) are also interesting for chemiresistive sensing and have been used in UV sensing and gas sensors. The high surface-to-volume ratio and porosity of ZnO nanostructures can contribute to the development of a room-temperature gas sensor. In our laboratory, a breakthrough in ZnO sensors was recently obtained, and a record level of sensitivity was demonstrated.

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Application procedure

Mandatory documents for admission:

Application indicating the science field, the topic and the form of funding (online)*
Official legalised Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas with the diplomas supplements or a higher education degree equivalents and academic transcripts (translated into English or Lithuanian and notary verified) and the certificate of recognition if higher education qualification acquired abroad
Curriculum Vitae
Recommendations by two researchers of the relevant science field (one of the recommendations must be written by the supervisor of the research topic that the candidate is applying to)
A research proposal on the selected topic (if the applicant applies to two topics, two individual research proposals have to be submitted)
A list of the research works with a full bibliographic description and copies thereof; if no research works by the applicant are presented, the applicant is required to present a research paper whose topic is consistent with the dissertation topic indicated in the applicant’s application (if the applicant applies to two dissertation topics, two individual research papers have to be submitted)
A copy of a valid personal document: a passport (for citizens of all countries) or an ID card (only for citizens of the European Union)
A copy of the receipt of the application fee payment (50 EUR for EU citizens, and 120 EUR for non-EU citizens)
A certificate issued by IELTS, TOEFL, CERF or any other competent institution within the last 2 years certifying the level of the English language if the candidate is not a graduate of the first or second cycle studies conducted in the English language

* The applicant can select no more than 2 (two) research fields and no more than 2 (two) topics per science field.

Participation in motivational interview (Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų g. 50, Kaunas, Lithuania or online)

Signing a study agreement (if invited to study)

Cycle	Third cycle
Language	Lithuanian, English
Duration	4 y.
Degree awarded	Doctor of Science Dvigubas laipsnis

Weighted grade point average of the Bachelor’s diploma supplement	0,1
Weighted grade point average of the Master’s diploma supplement	0,25
Research experience Research experience to be evaluated: publications (in the publications referred in the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science database, conference proceedings) and research experience (participation in research projects, research funded by the Research Council of Lithuania or other institutions, winners of competitions organised by the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences or other scientific and innovation organisations, oral or poster presentations at national and international conferences)	0,4
Research proposal on the selected topic for admission	0,1
Recommendations by scientists One of the submitted recommendations has to be written by the supervisor of the topic	0,05
Motivational interview, including evaluation of the knowledge of a foreign language	0,1

Physics

Partners

Research topics

Research Topic Summary.

Research Topic Summary.

Research Topic Summary.

Research Topic Summary.

Entry requirements

Minimum requirements

Application procedure

Selection criteria and their weighted coefficients

Study programme modules