Top
Skip to Content
LOGO(small) - Queen's University Belfast
  • Our facebook
  • Our twitter
  • Our
  • Our
LOGO(large) - Queen's University Belfast

School of

Mathematics and Physics

  • Home
  • Study
    • Undergraduate Maths
    • Undergraduate Physics
    • Postgraduate Taught
    • Postgraduate Research
    • International
    • Student Handbook
    • Scholarships
    • Visiting Students
  • Research
    • Research Showcase
    • Outreach & Engagement
    • Research Culture and Seminars
    • Consultancy and Knowledge Transfer
    • Research Centres
    • Postgraduate Research
    • Facilities
  • International
  • Business / Careers
  • Discover
    • About the School
    • Gender Equality
    • Outreach
    • Green Impact
    • Safe Harbour Scheme
    • Mental Health Ambassador Scheme
  • Connect
    • Staff
    • Get in touch
  • News
    • News Archive
  • Events
    • Events Archive
  • Home
  • Study
    • Undergraduate Maths
    • Undergraduate Physics
    • Postgraduate Taught
    • Postgraduate Research
    • International
    • Student Handbook
    • Scholarships
    • Visiting Students
  • Research
    • Research Showcase
    • Outreach & Engagement
    • Research Culture and Seminars
    • Consultancy and Knowledge Transfer
    • Research Centres
    • Postgraduate Research
    • Facilities
  • International
  • Business / Careers
  • Discover
    • About the School
    • Gender Equality
    • Outreach
    • Green Impact
    • Safe Harbour Scheme
    • Mental Health Ambassador Scheme
  • Connect
    • Staff
    • Get in touch
  • News
    • News Archive
  • Events
    • Events Archive
  • Our facebook
  • Our twitter
  • Our
In This Section

  • Home
  • School of Mathematics and Physics
  • Research
  • Research Culture and Seminars
  • PhD Research Students
  • Conor McCluskey - Student Profile

Conor McCluskey - Student Profile

 PhD student profile photo

 

Current Research Project:

Investigation of topological defects in ferroelectrics

With the demand for smaller, more efficient devices at a time when device size is reaching a fundamental limit, finding new functionality in materials becomes ever more important.

Our group deals with ferroelectrics. We investigate the nanoscale regions over which the spontaneous polarisation of a ferroelectric varies, which can show electrical properties that are in contrast to the surrounding bulk material. They can also be created, moved, and tuned by external fields, making them ideal candidates for future device elements/information carriers.

My work involves experimental transport measurements on a certain subclass of these defects, domain walls, which show enhanced electrical conduction relative to bulk. With a combination of nanoscale scanning probe microscopy, macroscopic electrical measurements and studies of electronic band structure, we can build up a picture of the physics governing the domain wall conduction, which is key for implementation into device architecture.

Biography

I grew up in Carryduff, just outside of Belfast, and attended school in the city. In 2015 I began my undergraduate study, MSci Physics at QUB. I graduated in 2019, and was awarded the Greer prize and Seagate solid state prizes for best performing physics MSci student and solid-state student respectively. My interest in the physics of ferroelectrics and material characterisation began during my MSci project, which revolved around testing a technique to avoid contact effects when performing nanoscale electrical characterisation on domain walls. This led me to apply for a PhD in a similar area, and I began researching defects in ferroelectrics in October 2019.

Research interest

  • Ferroelectrics
  • Domain walls and Skyrmions
  • Scanning probe techniques
  • Transport characterisation
  • Electronic band structure

PURE Page

 

 

PhD Research Students
  • PhD Research Students
Queen's University Belfast - Logo (small)
Contact Us

School of Mathematics and Physics

Main Physics Building
University Road
Belfast
BT7 1NN

GET DIRECTIONS

General School Enquiries:

E-mail: mp@qub.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0)28 9097 1386/5293

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Study
  • Careers
  • Research

 

© Queen's University Belfast 2023
Privacy and cookies
Website accessibility
Freedom of information
Modern slavery statement
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Manage cookies