I first heard about Paragraf when searching on LinkedIn for a summer internship. Having thoroughly enjoyed studying semiconductors in my undergraduate Physics degree, and with what I had learned about graphene in the first year of my masters in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, I felt this was a perfect opportunity to gain experience in an extremely relevant field.
I joined Paragraf as part of the Graphene Solid State team with the goal of helping to optimise the performance of the Graphene Hall Sensor (GHS) device. I was tasked with exploring the optimal parameter space of the Rapid Thermal Annealer (RTA). It is well reported in literature that a fabrication annealing step can improve the properties of graphene devices. However, due to Paragraf’s unique process of depositing monolayer graphene, a unique annealing recipe was required to match.
I began by testing pristine graphene wafers in the RTA and characterising them using Atomic Force Microscopy and Raman instruments. This was a great opportunity to put what I had learned at university into action. It was truly amazing to see the resilience of graphene when put under harsh conditions. The next step in my project was to test Paragraf’s GHS devices, this time taking electrical measurements to understand the changes in device performance depending on changes made in the RTA recipe.
This internship was a great opportunity to learn from my colleagues. The encouraging environment meant I felt comfortable asking questions and, as a result, I learned a lot about the company as a whole. Giving weekly research updates greatly improved my ability to communicate my findings and taught me the importance of sharing what I had learned. I’d like to thank everyone at Paragraf for giving me this opportunity to progress personally and professionally. I look forward to completing the second year of my postgraduate and starting my master’s thesis internship in the department of Physics and Engineering of Nanodevices at the ICN2 (Institut Catalá de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia).
Charlotte is a postgraduate student studying Nanoscience at the University of Barcelona. She joined Paragraf as an intern in Summer 2024.
