PhD Thesis Topic in LRCS, Amiens (Starting date: October 1^st, 2023)

Faced with the growing demand for energy, the development of mobile electricity, and the need to limit the consumption of fossil fuels, optimising the use of renewable energies and designing reliable and sustainable energy storage systems is obviousness. Currently, in terms of energy storage, lithium-ion battery technology covers most of the market needs (vehicles, telephones, laptops, etc.). These mature electrochemical devices are still the subject of research mainly focused on improving manufacturing processes and reducing manufacturing costs. Nevertheless, the safety of these devices is regularly called into question, particularly due to the use of flammable organic liquid electrolytes. As a result, academic laboratories and manufacturers have been directing their research towards the design of so-called all-solid-state batteries (ASSB) in which the liquid electrolyte is replaced by a solid material (oxides, sulphides or polymer). Increased safety, higher volumetric and mass energy densities, higher charging rates and autonomy are the promises of these new electrochemical devices, while at the same time considering the use of a metal anode.

The project will focus on all-solid batteries and, more specifically, on the development of a solid electrolytes capable of conducting sodium cationic species (Na⁺). The choice of working on sodium technology rather than lithium is explained in part by the lower criticity index of sodium (greater abundance, homogeneous distribution on the globe, etc.). To date, according to the literature, the most promising materials are oxides and sulphides. The sodium tetrathiophosphate sulphide Na₃PS₄, although sensitive to moisture, appears as a promising candidate owing to its superior conductivity, its low density and mechanical properties suitable for specific shaping. Na₃PS₄ is generally synthesised by means of solid-state chemistry methods (mechanochemistry or solid/solid reactions) which are energy- and time-consuming processes. The research topic proposed is to synthesise Na₃PS₄ – type solid electrolytes by solutions chemistry as a more competitive synthesis route that could allow more sustainable mass production. Partial substitutions will be investigated to improve the ionic conductivity and chemical stability of the Na₃PS₄ material. The formulation and assembly aspects of various electrode/solid-electrolyte/electrode systems to build and test all solid-state batteries will also be addressed.

Qualifications:

• The candidate must have a MASTER 2 or Engineer degree in chemistry, electrochemistry or materials
• Knowledge on energy storage, materials and solution chemistry, crystal-chemistry, will be
• Superior motivation for PhD studies and research, team spirit, will be valuable as well

Documents to provide:

• CV and motivation letter
• Marks, transcripts and rankings for Master studies and eventually undergraduate studies (if available)
• The names and contact details of at least 2 reference persons

PhD position | Development of disordered electrode materials for next-generation batteries Reactor Institute, TU Delft (Delft, the Netherlands) and CIC energiGUNE (Vitoria, Spain)

#materials #batteries #energytransition

topic | We will be investigating a new class of materials featuring atomic-scale disorder between mobile light metal ions (A e.g. Li+, Na+) and transition metals (M; e.g. Co, Fe). This is a new concept, in stark contrast to conventional electrode materials in which A and M are perfectly segregated in alternating atomic layers. The disordered materials have already shown great promise for increased performance (higher capacity, higher rate capability, slower aging) that could translate directly to lighter, faster-charging, longer-lasting next-generation batteries, respectively. Beyond performance, the disordered concept allows for more flexibility on the choice of transition metal(s) used which directly affects the economic potential and societal impact in view of battery mass-production. Current state-of-the-art lithium-ion technology heavily relies on cobalt and nickel. These are both rather rare, costly-to-produce (and in the case of cobalt, ethically unacceptable, see e.g. link) metals which go directly against the principles of sustainability, environmental protection and the green energy transition. Disordered structures can accommodate cheap, benign, abundant transition metals such as iron and manganese, paving the way for sustainable mass-deployment of electrochemical energy storage for electric vehicles (electromobility) and renewable energy sources (grid scale). For a deeper dive into the concept and problematics around disordered electrodes, the interested candidate are invited to watch a recent webinar of Prof. G. Ceder on the topic (link).

The candidate will be tasked with the rational synthesis of novel compositions of disordered electrode materials by such means as e.g. solid-state synthesis or mechanochemistry. The average and local structure and atomic-scale disorder will be characterized by advanced diffraction techniques, and the electrical and electrochemical properties via integration in electrochemical cells. The behavior of the materials in working battery cells will be probed directly, leveraging the expertise of the host groups for operando experiments, coupling electrochemical cycling with e.g. diffraction, x-ray spectroscopy and/or NMR spectroscopy. In this manner, the best materials will be selected for long-term cycling and applications in next- generation battery concepts, in particular solid-state batteries in conjunction with solid electrolytes.

research environment | the position is partly funded by ALISTORE ERI (alistore.eu), a European consortium of research groups and industrial partners in the field of electrochemical energy storage. The candidate will be part of two labs (1) the Storage of Electrochemical Energy group @ Delft led by Prof. M. Wagemaker and (2) the Advanced Electrode Materials group @ CICe led by Dr. M. Cabanas. He/she will be based in Delft with frequent travels to Vitoria and other ALISTORE partners. The candidate will be supervised on a daily basis by Dr. T. Famprikis (Delft) and Dr. M. Reynaud (Vitoria).

candidate profile | enjoys playing in the lab, travelling and collaborating / eager to learn, open-minded, creative, confident, good with his/her hands, well organized / degree in physics, chemistry, materials or related discipline

contract | 4-year employment @ TU Delft / ca. 2500-3100 € gross monthly salary / ideal start: fall 2022

application | by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. including at least (1) CV (2) motivation letter (3) recommendation letters or contact info from two references.

The LCRS-CNRS Laboratory at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne (France), the Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC, Spain), and Cambridge University (UK) jointly invite applications for a three-year PhD project entitled:

Battery materials for “Internet of Things” sensors: machine-learning guided discovery, synthesis, characterization and testing

Belgium, Olen
Corporate Research & Development
Research & Development

About Umicore

Reducing harmful vehicle emissions. Giving new life to used metals. Powering the cars of the future. As a global materials and technology group, we apply our specialist knowledge to offer materials and solutions that are essential to everyday life. We aim to be a clear world leader in materials for clean mobility and recycling and have turned our sustainability approach into an even greater competitive advantage. With ambitions like this, imagine what you could do?

About Corporate Research & Development

Driving progress through research. Providing material solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges and anticipating the needs of our customers requires a high level of investment in research. Umicore’s Group Research capabilities focus on new materials and processes to address the megatrends of resource scarcity and clean mobility. The nature of research and development means that we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new ideas. Which is where you come in.

4 UMICORE Positions in Belgium on batteries-electrochemistry subjects, looking for Ph-D and Master Students:

https://www.umicore.com/en/careers/chemist-battery-materials-synthesis-en/

https://www.umicore.com/en/careers/chemist-battery-material-testing-en/

https://www.umicore.com/en/careers/associate-scientist-battery-materials-electrochemical-characterization-en/

https://www.umicore.com/en/careers/associate-scientist-battery-materials-application-testing-en/

Belgium, Olen
Corporate Research & Development
Research & Development

About Umicore

Reducing harmful vehicle emissions. Giving new life to used metals. Powering the cars of the future. As a global materials and technology group, we apply our specialist knowledge to offer materials and solutions that are essential to everyday life. We aim to be a clear world leader in materials for clean mobility and recycling and have turned our sustainability approach into an even greater competitive advantage. With ambitions like this, imagine what you could do?

About Corporate Research & Development

Driving progress through research. Providing material solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges and anticipating the needs of our customers requires a high level of investment in research. Umicore’s Group Research capabilities focus on new materials and processes to address the megatrends of resource scarcity and clean mobility. The nature of research and development means that we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new ideas. Which is where you come in.

What you will be doing

As Project Leader for advanced cathode materials you will develop the synthesis, characterization methods and evaluation criteria of next generation cathodes for rechargeable batteries. In that purpose, you will manage different projects executed by a cross-functional team in order to generate knowledge and expertise on such materials, and their potential for Umicore growing business in bat battery materials.
The function will be located in Olen (BE) and will report to the Program Director Batteries CRD.

Detailed Responsibilities :

• On the cathode materials development, you contribute to the definition of the project strategy and technical scope
• You execute, organize and follow-up defined research projects within the research program by coordinating the different technical teams? The general goals of the projects are:
  • Synthesis development of next generation cathode materials for rechargeable batteries at both lab scale and pilote scale
  • Establishment of the characterization and evaluation tools required for such materials (diffraction techniques, spectroscopy, advanced electrochemical methods…)
  • Knowledge accumulation on the manufacturing and integration of novel cathodes
• You transfer successful product development towards business unit for further commercialization
• You share the findings and the advancement of the projects with the different stakeholders
• You participate in and initiate external collaborations that are beneficial for Umicore strategy
• You contribute to other R&D projects and internal scientific emulation by actively participating in cross-team events and by facilitating the sharing of expertise amongst colleagues
• You functionally manage (1-5) direct reports as well as implement and control CRD safety rules and quality procedures

Who we are looking for

• You have obtained your PhD in Sciences or Engineering (Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Materials science) or equivalent through relevant research experience.
• You have a deep knowledge on materials, their synthesis and their characterization (XRD, microscopy, spectroscopy…). Having expertise in the field of metal oxide chemistry is a must.
• You have a systematic and comprehensive approach towards technical and scientific issues and new developments.
• You identify and make recommendations on potential collaboration projects or participation to funded projects.
• You are strong in summarizing, reporting and presenting.
• Fluent in English and (willing to learn) Dutch. French, German, Korean or Chinese are a clear asset.
• You are result-oriented, creative and driven by scientific curiosity; you are successful in guiding project teams, motivating and convincing other people.
• You are a team player and customer minded with intimacy skills to understand business unit strategy and priorities relevant to the project.
• You have good networking and communication skills, able to proactively build functional relationships inside and outside the company.
• You have strong analytical skills, able to assess and summarize information and share knowledge and expertise with others.
• You are prepared to travel abroad.

What we offer

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?

If my pioneering research can drive our progress in clean mobility, IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD DO?

Belgium, Olen
New Business Incubation
Research & Development

About Umicore

Reducing harmful vehicle emissions. Giving new life to used metals. Powering the cars of the future. As a global materials and technology group, we apply our specialist knowledge to offer materials and solutions that are essential to everyday life. We aim to be a clear world leader in materials for clean mobility and recycling and have turned our sustainability approach into an even greater competitive advantage. With ambitions like this, imagine what you could do?

About New Business Incubator (NBI)

The CTO organization is structured around two pillars: Corporate Research & Development (CRD) and New Business Incubation (NBI). NBI is a newly-created unit that will lead Umicore efforts to identify and incubate next generation disruptive technologies with the aim of creating new business opportunities. CRD and NBI will, in close collaboration with the business units, cover Umicore technology innovation roadmap for the short, medium and long term.

What you will be doing

As Open Innovation Manager your main role is to build-up and maintain R&D network in Europe region, for accelerating innovation activities in New Business Incubation by open innovation (external collaborations).

• As part the open innovation team, you will set-up external R&D projects in the field of battery materials and metal recycling technologies, including the definition of the technical program in collaboration with the internal project owner, for R&D academic collaborations and joint-development with customers, or other material suppliers. You can also be directly involved in internal technology development projects.
• You follow-up and report (internally & externally) on the execution of the external projects and you regularly align with the internal R&D project owners and strategy and the global Head of Open Innovation.
• You will keep yourself aware of the latest relevant technological information in identified sectors through literature & patent reviews, participation to conferences and visits of universities and research institutes. You identify and make recommendations on potential collaboration projects or participation to funded projects.

The geographical area of these activities is the Europe region. The position will be located in Olen, Belgium.

Who we are looking for

• You have a PhD in materials science, solid-state chemistry/physics, electrochemistry or chemical engineering (or equivalent through experience).
• Industrial experience is required.
• Good fundamental knowledge of inorganic materials and its processing in at least one of the following areas is mandatory:
  • Lithium-ion battery materials
  • Metallurgic materials and processes
  • Metal refining
  • Metal recycling processes and flows
• You have basic understanding of R&D collaborative projects set-up
• Project management skills and change management skills are required.
• Fluency in both oral and written English is a must.
• You are an excellent communicator, with good presentation and networking skills.
• Analytical ability for numerical data, good problem-solving ability and strong will to share knowledge and expertise with others.
• You can work on your own under general direction, have a good sense of prioritization of assigned goals and manage time accordingly. You excellent reporting skills.
• You are willing to travel (mainly inside Europe).

What we offer

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?

If my pioneering research can drive our progress in clean mobility, IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD DO?