PhD student in ageing mechanisms in lithium-ion batteries - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

PhD student in Ageing mechanisms in lithium-ion batteries

The Department of Chemistry - Ångström conducts research and education in the chemistry field. The department has more than 250 employees and has a turnover of 250 million SEK. At the department's six programs, we conduct very successful research of a high international standard. We have a large number of externally funded research projects, often with international cooperation and we see continued good growth in our subject area. The department has education assignments in engineering programs and master's programs. More information is available on our website.

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Duties
Ageing of automotive lithium-ion batteries has been a common theme of several generations of collaborative projects between the Swedish automotive industry and academia. This particular PhD-project will focus on fundamental and applied experimental studies to increase the understanding of the ageing mechanisms that occur in modern lithium- and sodium-ion batteries. Both prototype batteries and commercial cells will be used, and the work will take place within the framework of a larger project financed by the Swedish Electromobility Centre, and together with researchers at the Royal Institute of Technology and also together with a number of large industrial companies. More specific, the focus of the investigations will be on the mechanisms behind inhomogeneous ageing of the batteries. In practice, this means for example to cycle the batteries under specified conditions, and thereafter analyse the cell components with experimental methods. These will rely on electrochemistry, diffraction, and spectroscopy, but also other methods and experiments at synchrotron facilities may be applicable. In Uppsala, we will also focus on the development of sensors to improve the possibilities to obtain information from the batteries while they are being charged and discharged.

The PhD-position will be placed within the research program Structural Chemistry, at the Dept. of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, and also within the Ångström Advanced Battery Centre. The research in these organisations is collaborative and includes researchers from different disciplines, and the activities encompass many different aspects of energy storage in batteries.

Requirements
Applicants should be highly motivated and interested in research in Chemistry, experimental analysis methods, and energy storage in batteries. An appropriate background is a master degree in Chemistry, Materials chemistry, or similar. Of outmost importance is previous knowledge and experience in handling advanced research instruments and in practical laboratory work. Documented knowledge in written and spoken English is a requirement. Applicants should also be willing to work in an international and interdisciplinary research environment together with industrial partners, and have the ability to work independently and in a team with other researcher.

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or has acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
• very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Additional qualifications
Previous knowledge and experience in Electrochemistry, Materials analysis, and Analytical chemistry is meritorious.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala University

For further information about the position, please contact: Associate Professor Fredrik Björefors, +46-18-471 3785, fredrik.bjorefors@kemi.uu.se

 Please submit your application by 11 November 2022, UFV-PA 2022/3698.

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