PhD Position Technology for Electrochemical Membrane Processes

How to make conversion of CO2 into sustainable chemicals a reality?

Job description

The energy transition impacts all energy- and chemistry-related processes. Two rapidly growing fields in this sector are 1) and conversion of renewable electricity into synthetic chemicals and fuels, such as green hydrogen, and 2) and the electrification of chemical plants. The scales of these processes are astronomical. The chemical industry is responsible for >10% of fossil fuel consumption in EU, from which roughly half the energy is spend on separation processes, and 90-95% of these separation processes are currently thermally driven (i.e., burning fossils). In the transition to renewable energy, electrical-driven separation processes are required at huge scale. Moreover, the electrolyzer capacity is expected to increase from the present-day 40 GW for the EU by 2030, which is >5% of the total EU’s primary energy consumption.

Electrochemical conversion, for example as CO2 electrolysis, is playing a crucial role in harnessing renewable energy to form chemical bonds. However, electrochemical technologies for making sustainable chemicals, such as CO2 electrolysis, are still to be upscaled and intensified. Mass transport, water management and stable membrane materials are pivotal in making this electrochemical technologies scalable and perform at industrial standards. In this project, we will explore to use a new strategy, using multilayer ion exchange membranes, to target the insufficiencies in selectivity, water management and catalyst interaction. You will develop new types of polymer-based membranes, using an hierarchical layered approach, to address water transport, ion selectivity and conductivity in separate layers. You will develop integrated membranes structures to allow water channels at microscale, and introduce layers of porous, capillary-active materials to distribute the water to the reaction spots. You will also study the impact of different ions and membrane chemistry on the selectivity and rate of the electrocatalysis reaction. Finally, you will implement high-tech optical techniques to map the flow and concentration of reactants inside an operating electrochemical cell.

This PhD project is part of the NWO-funded Vidi project. You will collaborate closely with another PhD candidate in this project (working on developing new membrane materials) and 4 industrial partners. Your daily operation is in the David Vermaas research group, where our group of ~10 PhD’s and postdocs are working together and sharing work on electrochemical flow systems, including applications of electrolysis, water technology, CO2 capture and flow batteries. The work will also contribute to TU Delft’s e-Refinery institute on electrochemical synthesis that includes >20 principal investigators across the campus, where electrochemical advances are used and valorised in upscaled prototypes, in collaboration with industrial partners.

Requirements

We’re looking for a candidate with:

• A MSc degree, in chemical engineering, process technology, mechanical engineering, water technology, biotechnology, applied physics or similar
• Please be aware that we are NOT looking for material scientists for this position; an engineering education is mandatory
• An excellent track record in terms of grades and university background
• Experience with performing experimental work
• Experience in working with process design is considered a plus
• Experience in working with electrochemical systems is considered a plus
• Pro-active and creative mind-set
• Fluent in English. Speaking Dutch is a plus
• Starting date between Nov 2024 and February 2025

TU Delft creates equal opportunities and encourages women to apply.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

From 1 September next, a salary increase of 3.7% applies due to a Collective Agreement amendment, followed by an additional 1% increase on 1 January 2025. In addition, most employees employed on 1 September 2024 will receive a one-off payment of €300 gross based on full-time employment.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft 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. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.