General information
Reference : UMR5279-CLATES-002
Nombre de Postes : 1
Workplace : ST MARTIN D HERES
Date of publication : Monday, January 16, 2023
Type of Contract : FTC Scientist
Contract Period : 24 months
Expected date of employment : 1 March 2023
Proportion of work : Full time
Remuneration : 2805.35 euros monthly gross
Desired level of education : PhD
Experience required : Indifferent
Missions
Energy production and storage are great challenges to ensure the energetic transition. High energy density, low cost, with extended cycle life batteries must be developed to promote renewable stationary applications (solar and wind farm) and electrified transport. Nowadays, lithium-ion batteries are the dominant solutions to power small electronic portable devices and are now used in most of the hybrid and full electric cars. However, for these applications this accumulator is not fully adequate because its energy density should be increased by at least a factor two to answer the demand of the market. In addition, the presence of flammable liquid electrolyte is a strong safety issue (fire, explosion). To overcome these limitations a solution is to replace the unsafe liquid electrolyte by an inherently non-flammable solid hybrid electrolyte. The optimization of the electrodes, and notably of the cathode (the positive electrode) is then essential to develop a reliable and efficient solid battery.
Activities
In this context, this post-doctoral position corresponds to a research engineer position with the goal to design and assemble solid hybrid batteries and to focus on the cathode optimization. For this, electrochemical and impedance studies will be performed as well as physico-chemical analysis (structural, spectroscopic). In addition, in situ and operando analyses at synchrotron X sources (e.g. ESRF in Grenoble) are expected with the help of the experts of the European consortium. Indeed, this position is part of the Horizon Europe SEATBELT (seatbelt-project.eu) project composed of 15 partners from 7 different countries that started un July 2022. So, several European partners will provide the materials (lithium, electrolytes, cathode materials, etc.) for the project. The work will mainly take place at LEPMI laboratory in Grenoble with strong interactions and travels when needed to the consortium partners (Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, etc.).
Skills
Knowledge in electrochemical and physico-chemical characterizations are asked. Some interest in battery systems is a plus. Please apply with your resume and cover letter.
Work Context
The LEPMI (Laboratory of Electrochemistry and Physico-Chemistry of Materials and Interfaces) is a mixed unit (UMR 5279) composed of scientist and professors of National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble-INP), Grenoble Alpes University (UGA), and the University Savoy Mont Blanc (USMB). The main research activities of the laboratory deal with elaboration, physical and electrochemical characterizations of materials (polymers, salts, ionic liquids, ceramics, electrodes) for energy related devices.
The hired person will work within the MIEL (Materials Interfaces and ELectrochemistry) team of LEPMI laboratory located on Grenoble campus at Saint Martin d'Hères. The team is focusing on the design and physico-chemical and electrochemical characterizations of polymers, salts, ionic liquid, ionomers and electrolytes for energy conversion and storage (batteries : Li-polymer, Li-ion, Li-sulfur, Mg, Na; fuel cells: PEMFC and PAFC). In addition, the team has a large activity on the electrodes' design and their characterizations and on coupling techniques to perform operando and in-situ measurements: electrochemistry/Raman, Electrochemistry/NMR, electrochemistry/synchrotron technics. The MEIL team is composed of 17 permanents, 14 PhD students/year, 4 post-doctoral fellows/year, and 6 Masters/year.
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