Steel production requires the reduction of iron ore (iron oxide) to metallic iron. This process is traditionally performed at high temperatures and with carbon as the reduction agent, forming CO2 as the byproduct. Since steel production is responsible for about 7% of yearly anthropogenic CO2 emission, hydrogen is currently being evaluated as an alternative reduction agent. There are hints that hydrogen plasmas can drive the reaction at lower temperatures, leading to a recent renewed interest in this topic and several new experiments being setup around the world. However, these experiments are focused on application-oriented designs that do not allow for the measurements of plasma species. At the same time, the fundamental processes that determine reaction rates are still poorly understood, making the design of these process-oriented reactors challenging.
Within this PhD project you will investigate the fundamental aspects of the chemical conversion of an iron oxide surface to metallic iron, when exposed to a hydrogen plasma. You will set up a dedicated experiment where plasma and material properties are tightly controlled to answer the following questions:
- Which plasma species primarily drives the reduction?
- Which physical process limits the reduction progress?
- Can the application of a plasma increase the energy efficiency of the process?
You will measure plasma and surface properties using state-of-the-art equipment and methods like two-photon laser induced fluorescence for the detection of atomic hydrogen and X-ray diffraction for monitoring the reduction progress.
The project is also part of the Eindhoven Institute for Renewable Energy Systems (EIRES), which will bring you in contact with researchers from different departments working on materials, processes and systems for energy storage and conversion.
You will join the plasma and materials processing group (PMP) in the applied physics and science education department of TU/e. Within PMP, you will work alongside an international team of passionate, dedicated people working on topics like new materials for the semiconductor industry and for photovoltaics; on CO2 conversion and plasma catalysis; as well as on advanced plasma and surface diagnostics and material growth processes. The group offers well-equipped labs, excellent technical support and an enjoyable and sociable working environment.
Besides research you will also contribute to education within the department. Apart from supervising BSc and MSc students in their research projects, other assistance in education, e.g. in bachelor courses, is usually limited to around 5% of your contract time.