Postdoctoral Researcher for MNT-Solar & NEMEN
Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Research Group (BBT) & Synthetic polymers: Structure and Properties. Biodegradable polymers (PSEP)
Postdoctoral Researcher for MNT-Solar & NEMEN
Deadline: 4th April 2025, but the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found
Project description
The transition to renewable energy sources is essential for a sustainable future, and photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems represent a promising avenue for direct solar energy conversion into chemical fuels. Nevertheless, developing efficient and stable photoelectrodes is crucial for advancing solar energy harvesting and sustainable chemical fuel production, such as hydrogen production or carbon dioxide photoreduction to valuable chemicals. This project aims to develop and characterize high-performance photoelectrodes —both photocathodes and photoanodes— based on novel ternary chalcogenide and/or kesterite materials that have shown outstanding performance in photovoltaic applications. These materials offer tunable optoelectronic properties, excellent stability, and enhanced light absorption, making them ideal candidates for efficient PEC devices.
The selected postdoctoral researcher will focus, on the one hand, on material synthesis and photoelectrode fabrication, producing novel ternary chalcogenide-based semiconductors with optimized band structures for efficient light-to-fuel conversion. The candidate will integrate selected electron transport layers (ETL) and hole transport layers (HTL) according to the different work functions, in order to enhance charge separation and mitigate recombination losses. The manufacturing methodologies will span from thin-film deposition techniques (including sputtering, physical vapor deposition (PVD), and chemical vapor deposition (CVD)) to mechanochemical synthesis and solution processing for controlled material synthesis. The challenges to address will include the electrochemical characterization of the photoelectrodes and the use of advanced operando techniques (including experiments in synchrotron facilities) to correlate the evolution and possible reorganization of the active species of the photoelectrode with the photoelectrode-electrolyte interface dynamics and photoelectrochemical reaction performance under light irradiation.
This postdoctoral position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge materials research in solar energy conversion, with the potential for real-world applications in sustainable hydrogen production and carbon-neutral fuel generation.
Required profile
- Education:
- PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Nanoscience, Materials Engineering or related fields.
- PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Nanoscience, Materials Engineering or related fields.
- Research Experience:
- Synthesis, characterization, and assessment of heterogeneous catalysis.
- Synthesis and characterization of advanced electrode architectures.
- Catalytic reaction engineering and reaction product monitoring (GC, MS, etc.)
- Experiments in Synchrotron facilities.
- Experience in hydrogen and/or carbon dioxide-related reactions.
- Key skills:
- Experience in electrochemical characterization of materials.
- Proficiency in advanced characterization tools (e.g., SEM, TEM, HRTEM, XRD, XPS, Raman, FTIR, etc.).
- Bridging concepts across chemistry, physics, engineering, and materials science.
- Ability to design, execute, and analyze experiments independently, with minimal supervision.
- Ability to plan and organize job tasks or resources in an efficient manner.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
- Innovative approaches to tackle complex scientific or engineering challenges.
- Evidence of impactful research through peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations.
- Additional requirements:
- Capable of writing scientific publications
- Motivation and fast learning skills
- High level of English
Contact
Laura RubioProject and Innovation Manager
Centre de Recerca en Ciència i Enginyeria Multiescala (CCEM)
laura.rubio.ortega@upc.edu
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