Postdoctoral Researcher: Electrocatalysis

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher who will study the synthesis and electrochemical performance of nanosized metal particles produced by exposing thin metal films to high temperatures, a process known as “metal dewetting”. Dewetting thin metal films on electrode surfaces produces “monolayers” of metal particles with tunable loading, size, distribution, crystal orientation and composition. This reduces the electrode complexity and makes it possible to decouple the effects of relevant factors (e.g., nanoparticles’ size, crystal orientation, composition) on the electrochemical response. Moreover, using flat electrode geometries allows to minimize mass transport limitations, and provides accessibility for probing the electrode/electrolyte interface under operating conditions.

The tasks you will perform include:

• Synthesize nanoparticles on electrode surfaces by metal dewetting.
• Use ultra-high vacuum techniques (magnetron sputtering), to deposit nm-thick metal films on electrically conductive substrates.
• Optimize the sputtering and thermal treatment conditions to tune the nanoparticles’ loading, size, distribution, crystal orientation and composition.
• Characterize the electrodes by ex-situ and in-situ techniques including XRD, SEM, TEM, XRR, AFM, XPS, XAS, among others.
• Study the electrochemical response of the electrodes in model reactions (HER, hydrogenation of ketones, reduction of nitrates) by electrochemical techniques such as CV, LSV, stripping voltammetry (ECSA – Hupd, COads, Cuupd), RDE, EIS, among others.
• Update the research team on the scientific results and project progress on a regular basis and represent the team at conferences.
• Help supervise PhD and undergrad students.
• Contribute to educational activities of the group (e.g., assist in lecturing, tutorials, lab courses).

• PhD in chemistry, material science, or equivalent field
• Experience in electrochemistry
• Strong English communication skills
• Expertise with one or more of the following relevant domains: electrocatalysis, materials science, synthesis, and characterization of metal nanoparticles
• International education / research experience
• Ability to work independently and with a hands-on mentality
• Experience in writing scientific reports and articles

• You will be appointed for a period of 19 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 € 3.420,- and €4.490,- 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;
• The number of holiday hours for full-time employment is 232 hours per calendar year.
• Professional and personal development programmes.

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.

Department:

You will perform the research within the Photocatalytic Synthesis group (PCS), which is part of the Faculty of Science and Technology and the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology. The PCS group has a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and international character, and it offers an outstanding infrastructure. The research focus of the department is on the conversion of electrical or solar energy into chemical energy, i.e., to drive in a sustainable manner reactions of environmental relevance, such as water splitting or reduction of carbon dioxide, among others.

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