General information
Organisation
The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.
Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.
The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
Reference
SL-DES-27-0046
Thesis topic details
Category
Condensed Matter Physics, chemistry, nanosciences
Thesis topics
Nucleation and Growth of Actinide Oxide Nanoparticles : Multiscale Modeling Using Molecular Dynamics and Machine Learning
Contract
Thèse
Job description
The formation of actinide oxide nanoparticles (Th, U, Pu) in aqueous solution is a major scientific challenge, both for understanding their behaviour under environmental conditions and for better controlling the properties of future-generation nuclear fuels. The nucleation-growth mechanisms of these nanostructures remain poorly understood at the molecular level: experimental studies have revealed a growth mechanism that differs from classical nucleation theory, without being able to identify it. This thesis in theoretical and computational chemistry aims to model this process through a multiscale approach. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations (DFT+U, VASP/CP2K) will be devoted to studying the structure, diffusion and condensation of solvated actinide(IV) hydroxo complexes, the precursors of nucleation. These results will also be used to train classical machine-learning potentials, in order to simulate large-scale systems (with LAMMPS). Biased sampling methods will finally make it possible to access rare events (high activation barriers, collective effects). The project will be carried out in collaboration with the LSFC laboratory at ICSM, who performed the experimental measurements (EXAFS/XANES, SAXS and DLS) needed to validate the models. This thesis will allow the candidate to acquire fundamental skills in ab initio simulation and machine learning. Beyond these technical skills, the candidate will also be able to develop valuable experience in scientific communication, as well as in collaborative work with experimental teams. This experience will thus be an asset for a future career, in both academia and industry.
University / doctoral school
Sciences Chimiques Balard (EDSCB)
Montpellier
Thesis topic location
Site
Marcoule
Requester
Position start date
01/10/2027
Person to be contacted by the applicant
PIREDDU Giovanni
giovanni.pireddu@cea.fr
CEA
DES/ICSM (DES)//LMCT
Institut de Chimie Séparative de Marcoule
Site de Marcoule - Bât. 426
BP 17171
30207 Bagnols sur Cèze
Tutor / Responsible thesis director
DUFRECHE Jean-François
jean-francois.dufreche@icsm.fr
Université Montpellier
ICSM - Laboratoire Modélisation Mésoscopique et Chimie Théorique
Institut de Chimie Séparative de Marcoule
Site de Marcoule - Bât. 426
BP 17171
30207 Bagnols sur Cèze
04-66-79-66-28
En savoir plus
https://www.icsm.fr