PhD Position in 3D Porous Model Systems for Electrocatalysis

The Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science (DINS), and more specifically a collaboration between the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis and the Physical and Colloid Chemistry group, offers an opportunity for a PhD candidate on a four-year research project on 3D porous model materials for electrocatalysis.

Your job
The energy transition requires the development of efficient energy materials, such as materials that help to efficiently convert CO2 and H2O to sustainable fuels and platform molecules, using renewable electricity. The electrodes are nanoporous, and under working conditions display a complex interplay between electrical potentials and currents, mass transport in the electrolyte, and a charged solid-liquid interface. The design of the electrode composition, as well the morphology and interfacial properties, is critical. Embedded in a materials and catalysis group you will develop porous model systems to unravel the influence of these different factors, and contribute to the design of more effective electrodes.

The aim of this project is to develop 3D model porous electrodes (coin metals and/or graphitic) and to use them to access the impact of nanopore-confinement and interface properties on speciation, spatial distribution and mobility of the relevant electrolyte species. Direct interaction, mostly electrostatic, of ions and solvent molecules with atoms and charges of the solid surface is substantially different in confinement compared to near a flat electrode-electrolyte interface. The huge surface-to-volume ratio for pores smaller than 10 nm will thus give rise to interfacial effects that will in fact extend over a large fraction of the electrolyte that is contained in the nanopores.

Although the impact of confinement on the physical properties of pure substances such as water is relatively well described, there is little information on the impact of confinement on electrolytes, i.e. including dissolved ions and molecules. We are interested in using well-defined and tunable 3D nanoporous systems (metals such as Au/Ag/CuOx and/or graphitic carbon) to address some for the following questions:

• How do the properties of (hydrated or complexed) ions and solvent molecules, and hence physical properties such as solubility and speciation change due to their restriction to a pore with a limited size?
• How is this influenced by the surface termination/groups, for instance using a clean, graphene like surface, or a carbon surface highly functionalised with oxidic (polar, hydrophilic) or nitrogen groups?
• Can we access the influence on mass transport, for instance by microcalorimetry and by visualizing metal cation gradients by plunge freezing and cryoTEM?
• Can we translate this to better understand the influence of porosity on different length scales on the CO2 reduction reaction?

You will be trained in materials preparation, characterisation and electrochemical testing, and will have the opportunity to visit specialised winter/summer schools. You are expected to consolidate the research outcomes in scientific papers that will be published in international peer-reviewed journals, and to present the results at international conferences. You will also have the opportunity to (co)supervise Master's and Bachelor's theses.

You are a collaborative and enthusiastic colleague with a scientific background in chemistry, materials science or physics, and preferably with a solid background in electrochemistry.

• A stimulating scientific environment where you will have ample opportunity to develop your own research ideas on the topic;
• a position for four years;
• a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

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The PhD position is not only embedded locally within Utrecht University but also in the newly established Advanced Nano-electrochemistry Institute Of the Netherlands (ANION), funded by a NWO Gravitation project. ANION is a national consortium with nodes in Leiden, Amsterdam, Groningen, Twente, and Utrecht. It connects several academic research groups with state-of-the-art experimental, computational, and theoretical expertise on the chemistry and physics of electrochemical processes. ANION will study the properties of electrified interfaces with relevance for practical application in electrolysers, batteries and supercapacitors. Inspiration by and direct collaboration with other researchers, experimentalists as well as theorists, is foreseen within ANION.

The local ANION-team at UU consists of researchers from the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science (DINS) and the Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITP): Professor Petra de Jongh, Dr Peter Ngene, Dr Marijn van Huis, Dr Ben Erné (all DINS), and Professor René van Roij (ITP). You will strengthen this team together with another ANION-funded PhD candidate, a postdoctoral researcher, and by other ANION consortium members elsewhere in the Netherlands.

For more information, please contact Petra de Jongh at p.e.deJongh@uu.nl or +31 30 253 1747 or Peter Ngene at p.ngene@uu.nl or +31 30 253 70 35.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

If you are enthusiastic about this position, just apply via the 'apply now' button. Please enclose:

• your motivation letter;
• your curriculum vitae;
• the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two references;
• a copy of your master certificate, or a letter from your university stating when your defence will take place.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.