Postdoc in Creative Electrosynthesis Reactions - DTU Physics

Technical University of Denmark (DTU); Kongens Lyngby; On-site; DKK 420,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

Technical University of Denmark (DTU) invites applications for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to explore electrosynthesis reactions for sustainable chemical production. The project combines experimental electrocatalysis with CAPeX and SurfCat infrastructure, and will involve collaboration with computational chemists.

The successful candidate will characterize and test electrocatalysts, operate at high temperature and pressure, use GC/MS and HPLC/NMR for product analysis, and help

Qualifications

• PhD by start date or soon after.
• Strong experimental experience in electrocatalysis.
• Experience with GC, HPLC, NMR, ICP-MS is beneficial.
• Basic programming skills in Python are helpful.

Responsibilities

• Characterize and test electrocatalysts for electrosynthetic reactions.
• Operate at temperatures up to 200 C and 20 bar.
• Use GC or MS to measure gas products and HPLC/NMR for liquids.
• Synthesize catalysts via magnetron sputtering or wet methods.
• Analyze samples with XPS, XRD, TEM and FTIR.
• Collaborate with computational chemists; mentor students.

Skills

Team collaboration

Strong experimental skills

Python basics

Education

PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or related field

Tools

Gas chromatography

HPLC

NMR

ICP-MS

XPS

XRD

Synchrotron analysis

Job description

As renewable energy continually becomes cheaper, the overall approach to sustainability is to electrify as much as possible. The chemicals industry produces 1000’s of chemicals thus there is substantial need for new research in electrochemical conversion to chemicals. While topics such as water electrolysis, CO2/CO electrolysis, ammonia synthesis are well researched, there is an urgent need for new and creative electrosynthesis reactions, especially those with high potential for economic viability. These types of reactions need original research to understand the fundamental science behind the new reactions, so that they can robustly grow in the future. That is what this project looks to investigate.

The creativity and aim of this project relies on you. Thus, this is a relatively open postdoc position in what the end goal will be as long as it relates to new electrosynthesis reactions. We are looking for somebody that has an idea outside the standard electrochemical reactions that are commonly researched. The proposed idea and project needs to fall within the capacities and direction of the pioneer centers for accelerating P2X materials discovery (https://capex.dtu.dk/) and the surface and catalysis (SurfCat) section within DTU Physics. As a whole, we expect this project will focus on developing the electrosynthesis reaction, and then using the CAPeX center and SurfCat infrastucture as a means to help determine what is the optimal catalyst and means of synthesizing and characterizing the catalyst. This is a purely experimental position, but will involve collaboration with computational chemists.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of this position is characterizing and testing electrocatalysts for electrosynthetic reactions either in aqueous or non-aqueous solvents. This could also entail operating at temperatures up to 200 ℃ and 20 bar. In-line gas chromatography or mass spectrometry will be used to measure gas products whereas HPLC or NMR will be used to measure liquid products. We have H-cells, gas diffusion flow cells, zero gap membrane electrode assembly cells, and electrochemical mass spectrometry, which allows for a variety of reactor designs that could be used for this project. Either magnetron sputtering or wet chemical nanoparticle synthesis will be the primary means of synthesizing catalysts with XPS, XRD, electron microscopy, and surface enhanced FTIR will be the primary ways of analyzing these. We also have the capacity to do in-operando synchrotron based analysis if this is desired. The potential to teach, advise Bachelor/Master student thesis projects, or be involved in proposal writing is also available to those that are interested in further developing their careers in any of those directions. Our approach is highly collaborative at DTU, thus it is expected that you will have substantial collaborative interactions with both other experimentalists as well as computational chemists in designing new catalysts and understanding the phenomena related to electrolysis.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should be highly ambitious as well as open minded, culturally adaptable, and willing and able to work as part of a team. As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent) or are expected to have one by the time of the start of the position. The degree should be preferably in Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science or a similar field. Quality in research is the core principle in which we strive for, thus a strong fundamental scientific approach and knowledge base is essential. The candidate must have extensive experimental experience working with electrocatalytic techniques and reactions. Experience with gas chromatographs, HPLC, NMR, ICP-MS and mass flow controllers would be beneficial as well as characterization techniques such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Basic programming skills in Python would be helpful.

We offer

DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment

The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. In addition, supplements can be negotiated in accordance with DTU’s salary structure for scientific staff: www.inside.dtu.dk/en/human-resources/during-employment/salary/salary-structures. The period of employment is 2 years. The starting date is expected to be 1 February 2027, though there is some room to move this a few months if need be.

Further information

You can read more about career paths at DTU here. If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Further information may be obtained by contacting Prof. Brian Seger ([e-mail]). You can read more about DTU Physics at https://physics.dtu.dk/.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The SurfCat section of DTU Physics consists of 7 professors and approximately 40 PhD’s and postdoc with the overarching theme of catalysis. Roughly the section consists of 2/3 experimentalists and 1/3 computational catalysis modelers, thus there is ample opportunity to collaborate with people in supporting aspects of catalysis.

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829

DTU is one of Europe’s leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe’s global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.