Job description
Protonic ceramic cells (PCC) have transformative potential as an electrochemical platform, capable of operating both as efficient fuel cells for power generation and as electrolysis cells for the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals using green electricity. Their intermediate operating temperatures of 400–600°C combined with similar class-leading efficiencies of higher temperature solid oxide cells (SOC) enable them to ease material and balance-of-plant constraints. In electrolysis mode, and in contrast to SOCs, steam and H2 are separated into different compartments in PCCs, which means various hydrogenation reactions can be performed in the H2 compartment within the cell. For instance, electrochemical conversion of N2 to NH3 and CO2 to CO and/or CH4 using only steam as an additional feedstock have already been demonstrated using PCCs.
In this postdoctoral position, you will contribute to the development, characterisation and testing of protonic ceramic cell technology across both Power-to-X and power generation applications. A significant part of your time will be dedicated to the development of novel pressurised protonic ceramic cell concepts for Power-to-X, targeting selective electrochemical conversion of CO2 to chemicals such as methanol and olefins, as well as N2 to ammonia. As part of this, you will contribute to the pressurised tubular cell test setup currently being developed in the group. Operating PCCs at elevated pressures is a promising route to improve selectivity towards higher-value products and to enable more efficient downstream integration, but it introduces new challenges across cell fabrication, sealing, transport phenomena and electrocatalysis that you will help address. Alongside this, you will also work on fuel-flexible protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs), capable of operating on a range of hydrogen-containing fuels.
Beyond these focal topics, as an experienced experimentalist you will actively contribute to other projects in the group on high-temperature electrochemistry, spanning both protonic ceramic and solid oxide electrochemical cells, and share in group responsibilities including the mentoring of PhD, Master and Bachelor students. The position offers the opportunity to collaborate with academic and industrial partners across the group’s various projects.
Your profile
- You have a PhD in chemical engineering, chemistry, applied physics or a related field.
- You have a strong track record and hands-on experience in experimental high-temperature electrochemistry. Experience with protonic ceramic tubular cells is preferred.
- You have solid experience in electrochemical characterisation, with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) being a must, alongside i-V testing and gas-phase product analysis (MS, GC).
- You have experience with materials and microstructural characterisation techniques such as SEM-EDX, XRD, Raman and/or DRIFTS.
- You are self-driven and able to work independently, but also happy to contribute to a team effort in an enthusiastic group of scientists and engineers working on a common theme.
- You are willing to mentor PhD, Master and Bachelor students in the group and help out with group responsibilities.
- You are fluent in English and able to collaborate intensively with external parties from academia and industry in regular meetings and work visits.
Our offer
- You will be appointed for a period of 24 months full-time within a very stimulating scientific environment. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues.
- Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU);
- Gross salary between € 4.241,- and € 5.538,- per month depending on experience and qualifications;
- Excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, a year-end bonus of 8.3% and a solid pension scheme;
- Free access to sports facilities on campus
- A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
- Excellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development.
Information and application
Your application should include
- a 1 A4 page motivation letter, explicitly outlining the specific skills and experience that make you the right fit for this position,
- a detailed CV including the name and e-mail address for at least two references, and
- a half A4 page summary of prior research that is most relevant to this position.
An interview (or two) comprising a scientific presentation followed by discussion will be part of the selection procedure. Following a pre-selection, short-listed candidates will likely be invited for interviews 1–2 weeks after the application deadline.
For more information and/or specific questions about the position, you are welcome to contact Dr. Aayan Banerjee (a.banerjee@utwente.nl). However, please do not send applications to this email address or via LinkedIn. They will not be taken into consideration.
You can apply via the button below.
About the department
You will be a part of the Sustainable Electrochemical Engineering and Digitalisation (SEED) lab () hosted by the Department of Chemical Engineering in the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Twente. At SEED, you will join a team of ~10 highly motivated researchers all working to accelerate electrochemical technology development for the low carbon energy and materials transition by bridging nano-scale physics to industrial-scale systems.
About the organisation
The Faculty of Science & Technology (Technische Natuurwetenschappen, TNW) engages some 700 staff members and 2000 students in education and research on the cutting edge of chemical technology, applied physics and biomedical technology. Our fields of application include sustainable energy, process technology and materials science, nanotechnology and technical medicine. As part of a people-first tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally and is strengthened by the many young researchers working on innovative projects with as doctoral candidates and post-docs. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.
