PhD Position Electrochemical Purification and Recovery from Mixed Li-ion Battery Waste

About this PhD position

Join us to shape the future of battery recycling by developing electrified technologies that recover high-purity materials from complex Li-ion streams and close the materials loop

PhD Position: Electrochemical Purification and Recovery from Mixed Li-ion Battery Waste

Job description

Join the Materials Production, Refining and Recycling (MPRR) group in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at TU Delft, in collaboration with the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), to contribute to advancing Li-ion battery circularity by developing innovative electrochemical methods for purification and separation of various elements from mixed NMC and LFP Li-ion battery waste streams.

The project will be jointly supervised by Dr. Shoshan Abrahami (TU Delft) and Dr. Devin Boom (TNO), and is part of the ADAPT-BATT (Adaptive Processing for LFP-mixed Battery Waste Streams) project.

As a PhD researcher, you will contribute to developing electrified technologies that recover high-purity materials from complex Li-ion streams and help close the materials loop. You will:

• Optimize the leaching of desired elements from mixed battery waste streams.
• Develop sustainable processes to electrify the purification and separation methods of Cu, Al, Fe, graphite from the leach solution.
• Optimize cell design and closed loop operation.
• Evaluate the performance of recycled materials in new battery cells.

Your work will contribute to recycling routes that use fewer chemicals, reduce waste, and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional recycling processes.

Background

Batteries are essential for decarbonizing transport and enabling renewable energy storage, yet their widespread use presents a growing waste-management challenge. Recycling spent batteries is key to recovering valuable materials and improving the sustainability of the battery value chain. Hydrometallurgical recycling is especially well-suited for processing the complex and variable composition of industrial Li-ion battery waste streams, including LFP chemistries. However, to meet EU regulatory targets and reduce environmental impact, these processes must become more efficient and selective to enable high purity recovery and improved recovery rates.

Job requirements

We are seeking a proactive, self-motivated candidate with a strong background in experimental research. Candidates should meet the following requirements:

• MSc degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Practical experience in hydrometallurgy and electrochemistry; previous work on lithium battery recycling is a plus.
• Proven hands-on experience working in a chemical laboratory and strong knowledge of safety procedures and risk management practices.
• Solid understanding of chemical reactions and thermodynamics.
• Strong communication skills in English, including proficiency in scientific writing (reports, papers) and technical presentations. TU Delft requires a certain level of English proficiency for participation in Doctoral Education courses and for writing the PhD thesis and scientific publications.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and willingness to collaborate with project partners, including academic and industry stakeholders.

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.

Faculty Mechanical Engineering

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering offers a dynamic and innovative environment with high-tech lab facilities and international reach, combining disciplines across materials, processes and (mechanical) systems in research and education.