PhD in ML and physics-based modeling for efficient electrocatalyst discovery

PhD Researcher in ML and physics-based modeling for efficient electrocatalyst discovery (X/F/M)

A PhD position is available in the Autonomous Energy Materials Discovery (AMD), a fully computational research group within the Chemical Energy Department at DIFFER. AMD focuses on developing and utilizing automated virtual materials discovery frameworks, driven by high-throughput classical and quantum calculations, artificial intelligence techniques, and advanced data infrastructures, to accelerate the discovery of materials and molecules for energy applications.

This PhD project is part of a grand effort to revolutionize electrocatalysts for green hydrogen production. The aim is to use advanced computational methods to model next-generation electrocatalysts, optimize their performance, and reduce reliance on critical materials. By applying high-throughput simulations and machine learning, this work will accelerate the development of innovative, cost-effective catalysts, contributing to the global energy transition and green hydrogen economy.

HR-stagiaire

HR-stagiaire, als HR-stagiair werk je voornamelijk samen met onze HR-officer binnen ons HR-team bestaande uit; HR-manager, HR-advisor en 2 HR-officers.

Tijdens jouw stage voer je verschillende en uiteenlopende werkzaamheden uit. Denk hierbij aan procesmatige administratieve taken met betrekking tot in-, door- en uitstroom. Daarbij werk je ook aan jouw eigen uitdagende projecten, waarmee jij de afdeling helpt naar een hoger niveau te tillen door verbeteringen en optimalisaties. Uiteraard zal er ook ruimte worden gemaakt voor een eventueel praktijkvraagstuk/onderzoek welke wij met jou in overleg en naar interesse af zullen stemmen.

Postdoc position

Postdoc who wants to work in the group of Catalytic and Electrochemical Processes for Energy Applications in the area of proton ceramic electrolysis cells and solid oxide electrolysis cells.

Scientific aim:
The development of green hydrogen as a key enabler of the energy transition is driven by ambitious goals and targets set by the European Commission, among others, as part of the Green Deal and the Repower Europe strategy. Achieving these targets is expected to drive down costs, resulting in positive business cases. Based on these targets, the market for electrolysis plants in Europe alone will be a multi-billion euro market, making it attractive for the European manufacturing industry to invest heavily in the technology.

However, the technology is not yet fully mature, which leads to significant risks during implementation. This results in much higher costs than estimated. Innovations across the value chain are needed to reduce these risks and lower costs. HyPRO is a national project, where multiple academic and industrial partners, focus on reducing (technical) risks across the value chain, which expected to have a substantial impact on the levelized cost of hydrogen. (https://groenvermogennl.org/project/hypro-onderzoek-naar-technische-risicos-en-kostenverlaging-van-groene-waterstof/).

This Postdoc position will focus on the degradation mechanisms of PCEC and SOEC electrodes (with special focus on chromium poisoning) via advanced characterization.

PhD post: electrode materials and porous transport layers for PEM electrolysers

A PhD position is available in the group of Catalytic and Electrochemical Processes for Energy Applications in the area of anion exchange membrane electrolysis.

Scientific aim:
The development of green hydrogen as a key enabler of the energy transition is driven by ambitious goals and targets set by the European Commission, among others, as part of the Green Deal and the Repower Europe strategy. Achieving these targets is expected to drive down costs, resulting in positive business cases. Based on these targets, the market for electrolysis plants in Europe alone will be a multi-billion euro market, making it attractive for the European manufacturing industry to invest heavily in the technology.

However, the technology is not yet fully mature, which leads to significant risks during implementation. This results in much higher costs than estimated. Innovations across the value chain are needed to reduce these risks and lower costs. HyPRO is a national project, where multiple academic and industrial partners, focus on reducing (technical) risks across the value chain, which expected to have a substantial impact on the levelized cost of hydrogen.

https://groenvermogennl.org/project/hypro-onderzoek-naar-technische-risicos-en-kostenverlaging-van-groene-waterstof/

This PhD position will focus on the development and evaluation of electrode materials and porous transport layers for PEM water electrolysis.

PhD Electrode materials and porous transport layers for AEM electrolysers

Scientific aim:
The development of green hydrogen as a key enabler of the energy transition is driven by ambitious goals and targets set by the European Commission, among others, as part of the Green Deal and the Repower Europe strategy. Achieving these targets is expected to drive down costs, resulting in positive business cases. Based on these targets, the market for electrolysis plants in Europe alone will be a multi-billion euro market, making it attractive for the European manufacturing industry to invest heavily in the technology.

However, the technology is not yet fully mature, which leads to significant risks during implementation. This results in much higher costs than estimated. Innovations across the value chain are needed to reduce these risks and lower costs. HyPRO is a national project, where multiple academic and industrial partners, focus on reducing (technical) risks across the value chain, which expected to have a substantial impact on the levelized cost of hydrogen.

https://groenvermogennl.org/project/hypro-onderzoek-naar-technische-risicos-en-kostenverlaging-van-groene-waterstof/

This PhD position will focus on the development and evaluation of electrode materials and porous transport layers for AEM water electrolysis.

Responsibilities and tasks:
The research tasks are highly interdisciplinary and will perfectly align with emerging research lines and granted projects at DIFFER.

• Development and characterization of electrodes for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction
• Evaluation of electrode materials in electrochemical half-cells and device level
• Development and characterization of porous transport layers as electrode supports
• Functionalization of porous transport layers with active catalysts and evaluation in electrochemical half-cells and device level
• Assembling, characterization and evaluation of AEM membrane electrode assemblies
• Physicostructural material characterization (XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM)
• Gas phase analysis of reaction products (GC, MS, FTIR)
• Preparation of scientific papers and conference communications.
• Supervision of bachelor and master students.
• Contribution to the scientific & collaborative research environment at DIFFER & TU/e.