Doctoral student in materials chemistry with focus on electrolyte design for Mn-based flow batteries

Lunds universitet; Sweden; On-site; SEK 400 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution in Sweden is seeking a doctoral student in materials chemistry. The role involves research on manganese-based flow batteries, including developing electrolytes and characterizing performance. Applicants should have an MSc in Chemical Engineering or relevant subjects, strong independence, and communication skills. This position offers benefits, generous leave, and is a full-time role for 4 years.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Advantageous occupational pension scheme

Qualifications

• Good knowledge of English, spoken and written.
• Knowledge of electrochemical chemistry.
• Prior experience with electrochemical characterizations.

Responsibilities

• Design electrolyte and additives to optimize battery performance.
• Perform electrochemical characterization and microscopy analyses.
• Develop techniques to assess cell performance.

Skills

Electrochemical characterization

Written and oral communication skills

Ability to work independently

Education

MSc in Chemical Engineering or Engineering Nanoscience

30 credits relevant to materials chemistry

Tools

X-ray diffraction

SEM

Job description

Description of the workplace

This position will be part of the Next-generation Electrochemical Energy Materials (NEEM) group within the Centre for Analysis and Synthesis (CAS) at the Department of Chemistry. The Department of Chemistry conducts research in all core areas of chemistry with a broad theme of research for a sustainable society. Potential synergies between the current position and key research areas within the department include synthesis and characterisation of organic, inorganic and polymer molecules and materials for catalysis, photovoltaics, energy storage and conversion applications, among other areas.

Being a doctoral student

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University.

As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

The subject covers third-cycle education in materials chemistry. The research areas overlap to some extent with the research subject of inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, and physics. The research focuses on developing new type of electrolyte and additives for manganese-based flow batteries and gaining a fundamental understanding of their working mechanisms. Collaboration with researchers in other areas of chemistry, physics, and other engineering subjects is an important part of the third-cycle programme.

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral programme, which includes participation in research projects as well as third cycle courses, seminars and conferences. As part of this research project, your primary responsibilities will include developing aqueous-based electrolytes, designing electrolyte additives, and demonstrating a fully operational manganese-based redox flow battery with enhanced performance. You will employ electrochemical and microscopy techniques to evaluate effectiveness and elucidate the underlying working mechanisms. The project aims to tackle key challenges in manganese-based flow battery development, namely low efficiency and rapid capacity degradation.

The work duties include:

• design electrolyte and additives to optimize electrochemical performance, enhance stability, and extend battery lifespan.
• perform electrochemical characterization (e.g., EIS, CV, LSV), vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman), and microscopy (SEM) analyse.
• develop in-house operando techniques to assess cell performance and gain fundamental insights into battery behaviour.
• set up, operate, and maintain redox flow battery testing systems.
• the duties may also include participation in teaching and other departmental work (however, a maximum of 20% of working hours).

Qualifications

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies materials chemistry if the applicant has:

• at least 30 credits of relevance to the subject area, of which at least 15 credits from the second cycle and a specialized project of at least 15 second-cycle credits in the subject, or
• an MSc in Chemical Engineering or Engineering Nanoscience

Additional requirements

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required:

• knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
• good ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• good written and oral communication skills.
• good knowledge of English, spoken and written.

Other qualifications

For the doctoral programme in question, the following are considered as other qualifications:

• course or demonstrated knowledge of electrochemical chemistry.
• prior experience of electrochemical characterizations, for example LSV and CV.
• knowledge of other relevant material characterization techniques, for example X-ray diffraction and SEM.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting as agreed. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Applications shall be written in English and include:

• CV and a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the doctoral programme/employment and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background.
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or awarded degree certificates. These must confirm that you meet the general and specific admission requirements for the doctoral programme and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral programme project.
• Other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.)