job description
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**Project Introduction**
Do you want to develop sustainable energy storage solutions for the future? Do you want to use your curiosity, technical knowledge, and enthusiasm to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and create a sustainable world?
In our multidisciplinary research team, there is one PhD vacancy: “Electrode Development for Acid-Base Flow Batteries”.
Join our team, in close collaboration with Aquabattery, to improve and design an affordable, safe, and sustainable long-duration energy storage battery based on abundant materials. This innovative aqueous acid-base flow battery won the Most Innovative Battery Concept Award at the European Sustainable Energy Innovation Award 2025.
**Job Description**
**Your Research Project**
In the coming years, solar and wind energy will dominate global electricity production. However, renewable energy supply is not constant—sunlight dims, wind slows. To ensure 24/7 energy availability and flexibility in generation and supply, long-duration energy storage systems are essential. This enables society to store surplus renewable energy for hours, days, or even seasons, and use it when needed. Long-duration energy storage is crucial for building a fully sustainable society and making green electricity available at any time.
Flow batteries store electrical energy in the form of chemical energy. The acid-base battery is a type of flow battery that stores excess energy in separate tanks containing aqueous solutions of acid, base, and salt. To store and generate power, these solutions are pumped through a membrane stack. Currently, this technology relies on expensive metallic electrodes, which produce H₂ and O₂ when NaOH is used as the electrode rinse solution.
In our research team, you will explore alternative porous electrode materials and redox couples to enhance the performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness of acid-base technology. You will study the kinetics of relevant oxidation-reduction reactions on various electrode surfaces, revealing the relationship between chemical composition and performance, using a variety of electrochemical and analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), as well as in-situ Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy during electrocatalytic experiments. The performance of selected materials will be evaluated in both laboratory and pilot-scale settings.
**Research Team**
You will conduct your PhD research in a multidisciplinary team. The Electrocatalytic Synthesis and Electrochemical Interfaces (ESEI) group is a dynamic research team focused on fundamental and applied aspects of catalyzed reactions relevant to a clean, sustainable future. We primarily focus on the intersection of heterogeneous catalysis and materials design, with a strong emphasis on elucidating the mechanisms of (electro)catalytic reactions. The electrochemistry team’s research is dedicated to electrocatalysis and electro(catalytic) synthesis for sustainable processes, as well as producing high-value chemicals (such as fuels and organic molecules) from “waste” feedstocks (e.g., carbon dioxide and biomass). The main goal is to understand, develop, and optimize electrochemical reactions under practical conditions, advancing the industrial application of electrochemistry.
The research will be carried out in close collaboration with the industrial partner AquaBattery (https://aquabattery.com). The team also includes another PhD student focused on developing bipolar membranes using electrospinning technology to enhance water splitting and recombination for energy storage. The two PhD students will work closely together.
offer requirements
We are seeking a talented, proactive, and passionate researcher.
Priority will be given to candidates with a strong background in chemistry and chemical engineering, and with interest and experience in electrochemistry, physical chemistry, and/or materials engineering.
Candidates must have a scientific and research-oriented mindset, combined with hands-on abilities and interest in application-oriented research collaborating with industry.
Analytical skills, initiative, and creativity are highly valued qualities.
Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams and interest in collaborating with industrial partners.
You are naturally curious, eager to learn, and have a strong passion for research.
Excellent English communication skills (C1 level) are required.
We prefer candidates with good team spirit who enjoy working in an international, social environment.
The selection process includes interviews, a scientific presentation, and a writing assignment.
offer benefits/salary
Engage in meaningful work at a vibrant and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary environment and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful green campus, within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer:
– Full-time employment for 4 years, with an intermediate evaluation in the 9th month. During the four-year appointment, you will spend at least 10% of your time on teaching duties, up to a maximum of 15% per year.
– Salary and benefits in accordance with the Dutch Universities Collective Labour Agreement, scale P (minimum €3,059 – maximum €3,881).
– Year-end bonus of 8.3% + holiday allowance of 8%.
– High-quality training programs and other support to help you grow into an aware, autonomous scientific researcher. TU/e encourages you to take control of your own learning process.
– Excellent laboratory technical infrastructure, on-campus childcare, and sports facilities.
– Commuting allowance, home office allowance, and internet cost reimbursement.
– Immigration support team and tax compensation scheme (30% tax ruling) for international candidates.