PhD position on electrochemical nanofluidics for energy research

Teaser Text

Modern energy technologies such as batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells usually rely on nanoporous, disordered materials through which ions must travel. This nanoconfinement induces many forms of couplings between charge and fluid transport, in no small part due to the inherently high surface-to-volume ratio of these structures. Disentangling the various physical effects in messy, realistic materials represents a formidable challenge which has so far remained largely unmet, especially when charge is injected locally inside the structures by electrochemistry.

In this research, you will construct artificial nanofluidic networks using lithography-based microfabrication. You will use these model systems to isolate, probe and manipulate the interactions between ion transport, electrochemistry and fluid dynamics, with the aim of understanding them and ultimately exploiting them to improve electrochemical energy devices. Examples include electrochemical self-induced convection, an effect we were involved in discovering, as well as creating positive feedback scenarios between electrocatalysis and ion spatial distributions.

What you will do

You will be part of Iontronics, a recently created multidisciplinary group within the Leiden Institute of Physics and with close ties to the Leiden Institute of Chemistry. This research forms part of the Advanced Nano-Electrochemistry Institute Of The Netherlands (ANION), a major program bringing together the expertise of the top researchers in the field nationwide.

You will:

• Design and fabricate micro- and nanofluidic structures using lithography. You will have access to both the local cleanroom at Leiden University and the national Nanolab facility at Delft University of Technology.
• Perform sensitive electrical measurements to probe electronic and ionic charge transport in these structures. This will build on a history of innovative electrical measurements within the group.
• Analyze and interpret your results, including quantitative simulations when required. This will be aided by the broad expertise in electrochemistry at Leiden University and more generally within the ANION network.

Where you will work

What you bring

In this team, we are looking for someone who can work independently. Every job is different, so in the beginning we will devote attention to your onboarding. If some of the work activities are new to you, we will look together at what you need, and draw up a development plan. This position is a good fit for you if you recognise yourself in the following:

•    You have, or will shortly acquire, a master degree in physics, physical chemistry or closely related disciplines. 
•    You are an excellent experimentalist with an interest in microfabrication.
•    You also have aptitudes for theory and modelling.
•    You are enthusiastic and highly motivated.
•    You have a creative mindset and excellent analytical and communication skills.
•    You have a good team spirit and like to work in an interdisciplinary and internationally oriented environment.