PhD: New functional materials obtained by hydrogen insertion in intermetallic magnets

The main objective of this PhD thesis is to unravel the microscopic mechanisms by which the hydrogen affects the properties of intermetallic magnets. To achieve this goal, we will make full use of X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), including X‐ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) - an inherently element- and orbital-selective technique - alongside X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and macroscopic magnetic measurements. To separate the effects of “chemical” pressure from those of lattice expansion, XAS will also be conducted under applied external pressure. Additionally, high-pressure hydrogen synthesis will be explored to extend the accessible range of hydrogen content. The key expected outcome of this work is a deeper understanding of the role of hydrogen in the complex interplay between lattice, electronic and magnetic degrees of freedom, knowledge that is essential for future technological applications. The project will be carried out jointly at Néel Institute (Grenoble, France) and at the ESRF ID12 beamline (Grenoble, France), under the co-supervision of Prof. Olivier Isnard (Néel Institute) and Dr. Fabrice Wilhelm (ESRF). This PhD project is co-funded by University Grenoble Alpes (UGA) and the ESRF enabling the partners to combine their complementary expertise to deliver pioneering, high-impact research on these novel functional materials. The PhD student will benefit from this rich scientific environment offered by those institutes located on the GIANT innovation campus.