Postdoc in Solar Charged Redox Flow Batteries

The SURFCAT section at DTU Physics explores the use of catalysis and solar energy harvesting to secure renewable energy for the future. The Independent Research Fund Denmark has funded the STORed SOLar project (STORSOL) which aims to combine solar harvesting photoelectrodes with redox flow battery chemical energy storage for providing solar electricity - day and night - with high-efficiency.

The research is highly interdisciplinary and combines photovoltaics, electrochemistry and chemical synthesis. We aim to use novel two-photon (tandem) solar absorber stacks to charge redox flow batteries - i.e. with a separate anolyte and catholyte.

Responsibilities and tasks
The key prerequisites for success for STORSOL are 1) a high-efficiency solar harvesting photoelectrode assembly which provides a voltage suitable for the target electrochemical charging reaction at the highest possible photocurrent and which is stable in service, and 2) a chemical redox system (redox species and electrolyte) with excellent cycle life and stability, low cost, near-reversible electron transfers and good energy density.   

You will be part of a small team of researchers working towards these goals.

STORSOL will only succeed if both (1) and (2) are solved well, so the relevant tasks involved include:

• Photovoltaic stack design and fabrication
• Photovoltaic benchmarking
• Corrosion protection and electrochemical activation (electrocatalysis)
• Redox system design and synthesis
• Redox system benchmarking and "plumbing" design
• Solar charging and (dark) discharging benchmarking

Qualifications
As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).

You are an experimentalist second to none - with a solid theoretical understanding of physical chemistry and either solid state physics or synthetic chemistry as evidenced by excellent grades in relevant courses and a CV which documents your abilities.

If your main focus will be the solar absorber stack you must have demonstrated experience in inorganic solar cell fabrication and preferably also tandem stacks or photoelectrodes, and your main focus will be the redox system you must have demonstrated experience synthesizing and benchmarking state-of-the-art RFB compounds.

You are hard-working, highly motivated, and you are a team player. On a daily basis you will be working as a team with several other PhD students and Postdocs on STORSOL and closely related projects.

Excellent written and spoken English skills are mandatory.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and terms of employment
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 2 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Professor Peter Vesborg, peter.vesborg@fysik.dtu.dk

You can read more about the SURFCAT section of DTU Physics at www.fysik.dtu.dk/english/research/surfcat   

Application procedure
Please submit your online application no later than 30 September 2022 (Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Application (cover letter, 1 page max)
• CV
• Grade transcripts from BSc/MSc education and BSc/MSc diploma
• Diploma (PhD)
• List of publications

References can also be included in the PDF file.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

Department of Physics prioritizes research areas within modern physics which represents a significant basic scientific challenge and also has clear application perspectives. The department has a number of state-of-the-art research facilities, including a supercomputer. Furthermore, the Department of Physics coordinates the undergraduate and master study Physics and Nanotechnology.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 13,400 students and 5,800 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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