PhD student in Materials Chemistry with Focus on Cathode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries

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. 

Duties
Applications are invited from highly motivated PhD candidates for a project in materials chemistry focusing on earth-abundant cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The position is based within the Structural Chemistry research programme at the Department of Chemistry-Ångstöm Laboratory.

This PhD project focuses on sodium-ion battery cathode materials, with a specific emphasis on the iron-based polyanionic cathode Na4Fe3(PO4)2(P2O7) (NFPP). Sodium-ion batteries are attracting increasing interest as a resource-efficient alternative for stationary energy storage, but broader deployment remains limited by cathode-related challenges such as phase purity, defect chemistry, conductivity, and long-term durability.

The project is fundamentally science-driven and aims to establish mechanistic understanding of how phase purity, defect chemistry, carbon architecture, and interfacial evolution govern electrochemical performance and degradation in sodium-ion cathodes. The main task will be to synthesize, characterize, and electrochemically evaluate NFPP cathode materials, and to relate these results to structural chemistry and interfacial evolution in order to build a fundamental mechanistic understanding. The doctoral student will work with controlled synthesis and compositional tuning of NFPP-based cathode materials, including ion substitution strategies and carbon network design, followed by electrode formulation and electrochemical testing in half-cell and full-cell configurations. Controlled cycling protocols, including partial state-of-charge operation, long-term cycling, and temperature-dependent testing, will be used to probe degradation pathways and durability. The work will involve a range of characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as various electrochemical measurements, with opportunities to contribute to operando and synchrotron-based studies in collaboration with the research team.

As a doctoral student, you will conduct research under supervision, participate in third-cycle courses, and contribute to experiment planning, data analysis, scientific reporting, conference presentations, and peer-reviewed publications. The project may also involve interactions with external industrial partners and you are expected to participate in relevant meetings and related activities. An individual study plan will be prepared at the start of the employment, taking into account your background in relation to the project’s obejectives and implementation. The work will be carried out at the Ångström Laboratory with access to relevant facilities for materials synthesis, electrochemical measurements, and advanced characterization. Teaching and other departmental duties may be included, but will not exceed 20% of working hours.

Requirements
The candidate must have:

• been awarded a second-cycle (Master’s degree) qualification in chemistry, physics or materials science, or be expected to complete such a degree before the employment begins, 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 oral proficiency in English and skills in high-quality academic writing (e.g. research articles, thesis and project reports).
• knowledges of material science and electrochemical energy storage systems

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

• hands-on experience with experimental laboratory such as materials synthesis and structural characterization
• knowledge of electrochemistry and sodium- or lithium-ion batteries
• hands-on experience in synthesis and characterization of cathode materials

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 1 June 2026 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: 
Haidong Liu, haidong.liu@kemi.uu.se

Please submit your application by 19 March 2026, UFV-PA 2026/553.