Job offer

European Commission; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

L'Institut Carnot de Bourgogne recherche un candidat pour un doctorat en chimie des matériaux axé sur la détection des espèces transitoires aux interfaces électrodes/électrolytes. Cette recherche est cruciale pour comprendre les processus dans des technologies émergentes comme les électrolyseurs à hydrogène vert. Le candidat travaillera avec des techniques avancées et bénéficiera d'infrastructures de pointe pour mener à bien ses analyses dans un environnement innovant.

Qualifications

• Diplôme d'ingénieur ou Master 2.
• Expérience pratique avec XPS bienvenue, mais non obligatoire.
• Motivation et capacité d'apprentissage dans les disciplines concernées.

Responsabilités

• Détection et élucidation des espèces transitoires à l'interface électrode/électrolyte.
• Application de méthodes électrochimiques et spectroscopiques, avec mise en œuvre de l'analyse XPS.

Connaissances

Expérience en électrochimie

Utilisation de XPS

Sciences des matériaux

Formation

Master en sciences des matériaux ou chimie physique

Description du poste

Organisation/Company ICB - UMR 6303 - Laboratoire Interdiciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne Research Field Technology » Materials technology Chemistry Technology » Energy technology Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Leading Researcher (R4) First Stage Researcher (R1) Established Researcher (R3) Country France Application Deadline 30 Jul 2025 - 22:00 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Scientific context

Chemical processes occurring at the electrode/aqueous electrolyte interface are fundamental to a wide range of current and emerging technologies, including water electrolyzers for green hydrogen production and aqueous batteries (Ni-MH, Zn-air, aqueous Li-ion).1 There is significant interest in deciphering the nature of transient species formed at the electrode surface during polarization, as identifying these intermediates would provide valuable insights into which chemical and structural parameters of the electrode should be optimized or suppressed to enhance material performance.

The urgent transition of our society toward an energy system based on decarbonized resources has, in recent years, renewed the interest of the materials science community in detecting key reaction intermediates at the electrode/aqueous electrolyte interface. To this end, a variety of spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical methodologies have been developed and applied, including UV-vis and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS).2–4 These techniques are typically implemented using one of three approaches: post-mortem, in situ, and operando studies, with the latter two being the most suitable for the detection of transient species.

Among the available spectroscopic techniques for probing the electrode/electrolyte interface, XPS is particularly well-suited, as it is inherently surface-sensitive, with a typical probing depth of 5–20 nm at the laboratory scale, depending on the energy of the excitation X-ray source. However, XPS measurements are conventionally performed under ultra-high vacuum conditions (10⁻¹⁰ – 10⁻⁹ mbar), which prevents the direct analysis of intact electrode/aqueous electrolyte interfaces.

Objectives

The main objective of this PhD project is the detection and elucidation of transient species formed at the surface of model electrodes used in aqueous energy conversion and storage devices. The project will employ an integrated approach combining electrochemical, spectroscopic, and spectroelectrochemical methods, with particular emphasis on XPS measurements. In this context, post-mortem analyses will be complemented by in situ and operando experiments. To overcome the limitations inherent to conventional XPS experiments, an innovative methodology based on cryogenic conditions—including cryo-electrochemistry5 and cryo-XPS6—will be implemented. The use of low temperatures will enable the trapping of reaction intermediates with short lifetimes at room temperature.

Throughout the doctoral research, the PhD candidate will have access to the state-of-the-art experimental facilities of the ICB laboratory. These include, for example, an XPS instrument equipped with both a conventional X-ray source (Al Kα) and a high-energy X-ray source (Cr Kα), allowing for greater probing depth. Currently, such equipment is available in only three laboratories in France. The candidate may also be required to undertake national travel to perform specific measurements within the framework of the XPS research federation (SPE FR 2050 CNRS), supported by the host laboratory. International mobility may likewise be required to collaborate with partner institutions, such as the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Finally, measurements at large-scale research infrastructures, such as the SOLEIL synchrotron, may also be envisaged.

References

(1) Chatenet, M.; Pollet, B. G.; Dekel, D. R.; Dionigi, F.; Deseure, J.; Millet, P.; Braatz, R. D.; Bazant, M. Z.; Eikerling, M.; Staffell, I.; Balcombe, P.; Shao-Horn, Y.; Schäfer, H. Water Electrolysis: From Textbook Knowledge to the Latest Scientific Strategies and Industrial Developments. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2022, 51 (11), 4583–4762. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CS01079K .

(3) Rotonnelli, B.; Fernandes, M.-S. D.; Bournel, F.; Gallet, J.-J.; Lassalle-Kaiser, B. In Situ/Operando X-Ray Absorption and Photoelectron Spectroscopies Applied to Water-Splitting Electrocatalysis. Current Opinion in Electrochemistry 2023, 40, 101314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coelec.2023.101314 .

(4) Liu, S.; D’Amario, L.; Jiang, S.; Dau, H. Selected Applications of Operando Raman Spectroscopy in Electrocatalysis Research. Current Opinion in Electrochemistry 2022, 35, 101042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coelec.2022.101042 .

(6) Kjærvik, M.; Ramstedt, M.; Schwibbert, K.; Dietrich, P. M.; Unger, W. E. S. Comparative Study of NAP-XPS and Cryo-XPS for the Investigation of Surface Chemistry of the Bacterial Cell-Envelope. Frontiers in Chemistry 2021, 9.

Applicants should hold an engineering degree or a Master’s degree (Master 2) in materials science or physical chemistry of materials. Previous practical experience with XPS and/or electrochemistry is welcomed but not mandatory, as skills related to these two disciplines will be acquired during the PhD.

Additional Information

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute ICB - UMR 6303 - Laboratoire Interdiciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne Country France City Dijon Geofield