Postdoc Recycling of Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries

Advance innovative electrochemical recycling of lithium iron phosphate batteries. Join this collaborative 10-month postdoctoral project and help accelerate the transition to a circular battery value chain by recovering critical raw materials through cutting-edge electrochemical research in close partnership with industry.

Job description

Batteries will play a crucial role in the transition from fossil fuels to a more sustainable world based on renewables. Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are used in many consumer products, such as toys and electric cars, due to their high energy density. The LIB market is expected to grow exponentially in the coming decades due to the electrification of society. Between now and 2030, around 11 million metric tons of LIBs are estimated to reach the end of their lives. Worldwide, less than 5% of all LIBs are currently recycled, which means that 95% of spent batteries are landfilled, posing serious risks to health and the environment. LIBs contain large amounts of critical raw materials like cobalt, lithium, and nickel, which should be recycled and not wasted.

In this project, you will advance electrochemical recycling technologies and translate laboratory innovation into scalable solutions. You will:

• Design and optimise electrochemical recycling processes, specifically electrodialysis and flow capacitive deionization, to selectively recover lithium and other valuable metals from LFP battery leachates.
• Develop and test new materials and cell configurations, improving extraction efficiency, selectivity, and energy performance.
• Adapt and enhance laboratory-scale electrochemical setups to generate robust experimental data on process stability, efficiency, and energy consumption.
• Evaluate and quantify the technical and economic feasibility of the developed processes through a techno-economic analysis, identifying pathways toward scale-up and industrial implementation.
• Collaborate and communicate with industrial partners and academic colleagues, ensuring alignment with project deliverables and translating scientific insights into practical recycling strategies.

You will work in close collaboration with industry partners and contribute to scientific publications and knowledge dissemination. Through this role, you directly support the transition to a circular battery economy by developing technologies that reduce waste, recover critical materials, and lower the environmental footprint of energy storage systems.

Process & Energy – Engineering Thermodynamics Group

You will be part of the Engineering Thermodynamics group within the Process & Energy Department at TU Delft and will work under the guidance of Dr. Mahinder Ramdin. The group focuses on understanding and modelling the thermodynamic behaviour of fluids and mixtures to enable efficient, reliable, and sustainable energy and process technologies. By combining molecular-level theories, advanced equations of state, and computational modelling, the team investigates phase equilibria, transport properties, and complex fluid behaviour relevant to applications such as carbon capture, hydrogen systems, geothermal energy, and advanced separation processes.

Within the Engineering Thermodynamics group, you will work in a collaborative and international research environment, closely connected to partners across academia and industry. You will contribute to the development of predictive thermodynamic models and simulation tools that underpin next-generation energy systems and circular chemical processes. The group values scientific interaction, intellectual curiosity, and open collaboration, offering you the opportunity to strengthen your analytical and computational expertise.

Job requirements

We are seeking an inspiring and highly self-motivated postdoctoral researcher. You have a critical and rigorous scientific mindset, are highly motivated, and possess strong project-management skills. You can work independently while also being an effective team player, and are eager to collaborate closely with other researchers and industrial partners.

Moreover, you meet the following requirements:

• A PhD degree in applied physics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a similar field.
• Profound knowledge of chemical engineering fundamentals and electrochemistry.
• Demonstrated expertise in recycling of critical raw materials.
• Effective communication skills in English.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is a top international university combining science, engineering, and design. It delivers world-class results in education, research, and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health, and digital society.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 10 months temporary.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training, and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.