PhD position in Photocatalysis

The Department of Chemistry - Ångström conducts research and education in the chemistry field. The department has more than 270 employees and has a turnover of 300 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: (https://kemi.uu.se/angstrom/?languageId=1).

Duties
This PhD project focuses on developing a sustainable and decentralized method for converting atmospheric nitrogen and waste nitrates into ammonium nitrate using electricity and light in water at neutral pH. The research combines plasmonic and semiconductor-based photoelectrocatalysis to create a novel dual-catalyst system capable of producing fertilizer locally and under mild conditions. By addressing key challenges in nitrogen activation - such as high energy requirements and low selectivity - the project aims to establish a scalable, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible alternative to the Haber-Bosch process, supporting the transition to sustainable agriculture and localized fertilizer production.

Example of duties:

• Catalyst Development: Design, synthesize, and characterize plasmonic and other photocatalytic materials tailored for nitrogen fixation and upgrade nitrate waste in aqueous media.
• Electrode Fabrication and Testing: Prepare photoelectrodes and test them in half-cell and full-cell configurations under varying light and electrochemical conditions.
• Device Assembly: Contribute to the construction of an integrated photoelectrochemical device capable of nitrogen-to-fertilizer conversion without membrane separation.
• Product Analysis: Analyze reaction products (e.g., nitrate and ammonium) using spectroscopic and analytical techniques such as HPLC, Raman spectroscopy, and NMR.
• Sustainability Assessment: Support the evaluation of energy efficiency and environmental impact to ensure alignment with sustainable development goals.
• Collaboration and Reporting: Work closely with the research team, participate in project meetings, document results, and contribute to publications and dissemination.

Requirements
The candidate must have:

• been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory techniques for materials synthesis, electrode preparation, and analytical methods.
• Strong motivation for interdisciplinary research and interest in sustainability and green technologies.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an international research environment.

Additional qualifications

• Photoelectrochemical systems
• Clean room experience in ALD synthesis
• Spectroscopic techniques (e.g., UV-Vis, Raman, NMR, XPS)
• Imaging techniques (e.g., SEM, AFM)
• Programming skills (e.g., Python) for data analysis
• Previous work related to nitrogen chemistry or sustainable fertilizer production

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 2025-09-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

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

For further information about the position, please contact: Prof. Jacinto Sá Email: jacinto.sa@kemi.uu.se 

Please submit your application by 15th of August, 2025 UFV-PA 2025/2177.

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