What was the focus of your PhD research? Can you explain it to a non-scientific audience?

My PhD focused on understanding heat flow at the atomic scale between semiconductor materials, aiming to improve thermal management in nanoscale electronic devices.

Can you briefly summarize the main findings or contributions of your research? You can give us some examples.

I showed how phonon transport—and thus thermal boundary resistance—is influenced by factors like temperature, interface morphology, chemical mixing, and roughness. I used advanced molecular dynamics and density functional theory simulations to quantify these effects in systems like GaAs/Ge and Si/Ge superlattices.

Why do you think your research is important, and how could it impact your field or society?

My research helps improve the design of materials for better heat dissipation in electronics, potentially leading to more efficient, compact, and reliable devices.

What was one of the most challenging aspects of your PhD journey, and how did you overcome it?

One challenge was ensuring the simulations were both accurate and physically meaningful. I overcame this with rigorous validation, testing convergence, and performing hundreds of simulations to ensure robustness.

Why did you end up at ICMAB? And what do you think you will miss the most from this institute?

I chose ICMAB for its excellent research environment in nanoscale physics and materials science. I will most miss the supportive, collaborative, and multicultural atmosphere.

What’s next for you after completing your PhD? Do you have any upcoming projects or goals?

I chiefly plan to transition to Data Science or some related fields.

How has completing this PhD changed you, either professionally or personally?

The PhD has strengthened my resilience, critical thinking, and independence. Personally, it taught me patience and the value of persistence.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their PhD journey?

Stay curious and patient. Communicate well with your mentors, collaborate, embrace failure as part of learning, and take care of your mental health.

Why did you become a scientist? Which have been your role models that inspired you to pursue a PhD?

I became a scientist out of a deep curiosity about nature. My colleagues and academic mentors inspired me with their enthusiasm and clarity of thought.

Who or what helped you the most during your PhD journey, and is there anyone you'd like to thank?

I’m most grateful to my supervisors, colleagues, friends, and family for their constant support and encouragement throughout this journey.

Abstract

The thesis investigates nanoscale phonon transport across semiconductor interfaces using a combination of molecular dynamics and first-principles methods. It reveals how atomic-scale interface features critically affect thermal boundary resistance, explores thermal rectification and thermal transport in superlattices, and highlights the interplay between thermal and optical properties in engineered materials. The findings offer new design principles for efficient heat management in next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Supervisors

• Riccardo Rurali, ICMAB-CSIC, Spain

PhD Committee

• President: Juan Sebastián Reparaz, ICMAB-CSIC, Spain
• Secretary: Albert Beardo Ricol, UAB, Spain
• Vocal: Claudia Fasolato, CNR, Italy