Electrochemical devices such as batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers play a key role in the energy transition, facilitating electrical energy storage and the production of green chemicals. This PhD project focuses on resolving the molecular-level interactions that occur at the interface between the electrodes and the electrolyte of such devices. At this interface, the interactions between the electrode surface, reactants, products, adsorbates, ions, and water molecules determine how well the electrochemistry performs and how stable the device is during prolonged operation.
Using the new X-ray spectroscopy methods developed in our group, we can get a grip on these interactions by producing a chemical fingerprint for every element at the electrode-electrolyte interface. You will use this methodology to unravel the electrode-electrolyte interactions that occur at the surface of carbon electrodes, which are widely used in both batteries and electrocatalysis. Your work will be embedded in the ANION consortium, enabling you to interact with electrochemists, spectroscopists, and microscopists from six knowledge institutes spread over the Netherlands. For your research, you will have the opportunity to combine our unique electrochemical X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy set-up with X-ray spectroscopy at synchrotron facilities.
This project is a good match for you if you like:
- Understanding electrochemistry at the molecular level
- Learning new (X-ray) spectroscopy methods
- Working as a team, both within the group and in collaborations with other institutes
