Job description
PhD Position on Operational Characterization of Solid Oxide and Proton Ceramic Electrolyzers
Project Description
High temperature Solid Oxide Electrolyzers (SOECs) and Proton Ceramic Electrolyzers (PCECs) are promising technologies that can reduce electrical energy consumption by up to 30% compared to conventional low temperature electrolyzers. Due to the high operating temperatures, typically above 450°C, synergies can also be created with industrial processes where waste heat or steam is available (e.g. steel, ammonia, etc.). However, high degradation rates during operation, especially under intermittent loading conditions, remain an obstacle to the accelerated diffusion and application of these technologies. Therefore, in addition to routine electrochemical performance measurements, it is more important than ever to obtain information on the behavior of batteries during operation so that various degradation patterns can be better understood and design and control strategies can be proposed to mitigate these patterns.
As part of the ~50 million euro “HyPRO” project (the largest ever green hydrogen R&D project in the Netherlands), we are looking for a PhD candidate to develop and implement in-service SOEC and PCEC characterization studies. The candidate will design and build a new cell test setup based on the existing setup in our lab, which will allow for single-cell testing at elevated temperatures (450-1000 oC) and pressurized conditions (1-10 bar), as well as optical inspection of the cells, e.g., through quartz/sapphire windows. In addition to standard current-voltage and EIS measurements, the device should also contribute to infrared imaging and vibrational spectroscopy (e.g. Raman) for (near) real-time monitoring of thermal and compositional variations across the cell, including localized anomalies (e.g. hot spots and cracks). Combined with pre- and post-mortem microstructural (FIB-SEM, XCT) and compositional (EDX, XRD, XPS) characterization, these operational studies will help to link operational parameters (i.e., applied currents/potentials, feed compositions and flow rates, temperature slopes and fluctuations) with cell degradation metrics (e.g., electrode compositional variations, three-phase boundary lengths, charge conductivity, etc.). On this basis, the candidate will be responsible for proposing cell design and control strategies (steam and air/power/thermal) to minimize cell degradation, especially in the case of intermittent operation, and validate them in a 2000-hour stability test.
Your Resume
* You have a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Applied Physics or related field.
* You have experience and/or strong interest in electrochemistry, transport phenomena, reactor design and control.
* You have experience and/or strong interest in the design and construction of novel experimental test sets.
* Experience and/or strong interest in electrochemical characterization techniques (i-V, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography) and analytical techniques (IR, Raman, SEM-EDX, XRD).
* You are an excellent team player, working on a common theme in a passionate team of scientists and engineers.
* You are creative, enjoy pushing boundaries, and are driven to solve major challenges in low-carbon energy and materials transformation.
* You are fluent in English and able to work intensively with external people from academia and industry in regular meetings and working visits.
We offer
* A full-time position for a period of 4 years;
* Your salary and related conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU);
* A gross salary of €2,901 per month;
* Excellent benefits, including a vacation allowance of 8% of your gross salary per annum, an 8.3% year-end bonus and a solid pension scheme;
* In case of full-time employment, a minimum of 232 hours of vacation based on an official working week of 38 hours. In practice, full-time work is defined as a 40-hour week, resulting in an additional 96 hours of vacation per year;
* Free use of on-campus sports facilities;
* Parental leave (paid and unpaid) at family-friendly schools.
https://utwentecareers.nl/en/vacancies/2039/phd-position-on-operando-characterisation-of-solid-oxide-and-protonic- ceramic-electrolysis-cells/
false</is_remote_job
Europe, The Netherlands</job_location
Doctoral position</position_name
University of Twente
Doctoral position on operational characterization of solid oxide and proton ceramic electrolysers
2,901 EUR/month
https://www.utwente.nl/
None
2025-03-15
[email protected]
false
true</is_doctoral_position
false</is_master_position
false</is_bachelor_position
offer requirements
Your Resume
* You have a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Applied Physics or a related field.
* You have experience and/or strong interest in electrochemistry, transport phenomena, reactor design and control.
* You have experience and/or strong interest in the design and construction of novel experimental test rigs.
* Experience and/or strong interest in electrochemical characterization techniques (i-V, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography) and analytical techniques (IR, Raman, SEM-EDX, XRD).
* You are an excellent team player, working on a common theme in a passionate team of scientists and engineers.
* You are creative, enjoy pushing boundaries, and are driven to solve major challenges in low-carbon energy and materials transformation.
* You are fluent in English and able to work intensively with external people from academia and industry in regular meetings and working visits.
We offer
* A full-time position for a period of 4 years;
* Your salary and related conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU);
* Gross salary of €2,901 per month;
* Excellent benefits, including a vacation allowance of 8% of your gross salary per annum, an 8.3% year-end bonus and a solid pension scheme;
* In case of full-time employment, a minimum of 232 hours of vacation based on an official working week of 38 hours. In practice, full-time work is defined as a 40-hour week, resulting in an additional 96 hours of vacation per year;
* Free use of on-campus sports facilities;
* Parental leave (paid and unpaid) at family-friendly schools.
https://utwentecareers.nl/en/vacancies/2039/phd-position-on-operando-characterisation-of-solid-oxide-and-protonic- ceramic-electrolysis-cells/
false</is_remote_job
Europe, The Netherlands</job_location
Doctoral position</position_name
University of Twente
Doctoral position on operational characterization of solid oxide and proton ceramic electrolysers
2,901 Euro per month
https://www.utwente.nl/
None
2025-03-15
[email protected]
false
true</is_doctoral_position
false</is_master_position
false
offer benefits
We offer
* a full-time position for a period of 4 years;
* your salary and related conditions in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU);
* a gross monthly salary of €2,901;
* excellent benefits, including a vacation allowance of 8% of your gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme;
* In the case of full-time employment, a minimum of 232 hours of vacation based on an official working week of 38 hours. In practice, full-time work is defined as a 40-hour week, resulting in an additional 96 hours of vacation per year;
* free use of on-campus sports facilities;
* family-friendly schools that offer parental leave (paid and unpaid).
https://utwentecareers.nl/en/vacancies/2039/phd-position-on-operando-characterisation-of-solid-oxide-and-protonic- ceramic-electrolysis-cells/
false</is_remote_job
Europe, The Netherlands</job_location
Doctoral position</position_name
University of Twente
Doctoral position on operational characterization of solid oxide and proton ceramic electrolysers
2,901 EUR/month
https://www.utwente.nl/
None
2025-03-15
[email protected]
false
true</is_doctoral_position
false</is_master_position
false
To apply for this job please visit utwente.nl.