Join a pioneering project focused on designing smart processes to enhance combustibility, cyclability, and safety of iron powders to establish Metal-enabled Cycle of Renewable Energy (MeCRE)!
Information One of the greatest challenges in the global energy transition is bridging the gap between society’s demand for continuous, reliable energy and the inherently intermittent and geographically scattered nature of renewable sources such as solar and wind. Iron powder is emerging as one of the most promising circular energy carriers due to its high energy density, carbon-free combustion, and excellent recyclability. Iron powder can be produced using green hydrogen and transported to end-users, where it is combusted with air to release energy. This combustion yields only solid iron oxide, which can then be collected, shipped back, and regenerated into iron fuel—thus completing the
Metal-enabled Cycle of Renewable Energy (MeCRE), also known as the
Iron Power Cycle. To establish this cycle on large scales and long duration, we need to ensure iron powder satisfying the three key criteria of CEC performance:
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Combustibility: Good ignition rate enabling high-oxidation degree during the combustion process.
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Cyclability: Consistent powder material properties and minimal mass loss over cycles of reduction and combustion.
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Safety: Minimal propensity to unwanted ignition.
This PhD project focuses on developing smart processes to optimize the CEC performance of iron powder following the above-mentioned three criteria.
Your research will focus on:
(1) Designing and testing processes of H2-based reduction with post-treatments to effectively control the powder material properties, including particle size, pore characteristics, and pre-oxidation layer thickness.
(2) Investigating the combustion characteristics of these smart-processed iron powder with controlled properties--determining ignition temperature and overall oxidation degree—and performing mutli-cycle tests to examine the consistency of powder material properties.
The key responsibilities include:
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Conducting H₂-based thermal reduction experiments in a fluidized-bed reactor to perform parametric studies on how different reactor conditions, e.g., temperature, gas composition, influence the material properties of reduced particles.
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Conducting post-treatment (e.g., de-agglomeration, pre-oxidation) of the reduced powder to control particle size distribution and oxide shell thickness to enhance safety.
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Performing single-particle combustion tests to evaluate ignition behavior
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Conducting multi-cycle tests to examine the consistency of particle material properties measured via a set of material characterization techniques.
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Disseminating your findings through high-impact journal publications and presentations at international conferences.
This position is part of the research project "
From Powder Material Properties to Metal-enabled Cycle of Renewable Energy (PMP-to-MeCRE)", funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) under the Open Technology Programme. You will work at the intersection of materials science, chemical processing, and combustion technology, in collaboration with both academic and industrial partners, including Metalot, RIFT, Iron+, KWR, ArcelorMittal (France), and Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN, Brazil).
Why Join Us? This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to pioneering research in the fast-emerging field of metal energy carriers. You will have access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities that support the entire Iron Power Cycle and play a key role in
innovating reduction and post-treatment processes to enhance CEC performance of iron powders.
At TU Eindhoven (TU/e), we prioritize your academic and personal development. You’ll benefit from robust training programs, a collaborative and supportive research environment, and opportunities for international exposure.
Our research group, the
Power and Flow Section in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is recognized as a global leader in both the fundamental and applied aspects of Iron Power Cycle research. The team includes over 10 PhDs and postdocs and six faculty members with expertise ranging from computational modeling and experimental diagnostics to combustion physics and electrochemistry. As part of this dynamic group, you will receive strong mentorship and hands-on support to develop your skills and pursue your research goals.
Moreover, you will become an active member of the
Eindhoven Institute for Renewable Energy Systems EIRES!
Project team The PMP-to-MeCRE project is jointly led by
Prof. XiaoCheng Mi, an expert in metal combustion, and
Prof. Giulia Finotello, an expert in chemical processing for iron-oxide reduction, both from the Power and Flow Section at TU/e.
You will collaborate closely with:
- A fellow PhD researcher exploring the suitable feedstocks and processes to produce iron powder for the energy cycle.
- A postdoctoral researcher focused on standardization and precision in powder material characterization.
- Industry engineers and R&D specialists from our consortium partners who are actively contributing to the large-scale realization of the Iron Power Cycle.
This collaborative structure ensures a well-rounded and impactful research experience.