Missions

As part of the European project MUSIC (Material for Sustainable Sodium-Ion Capacitors), the candidate will be responsible for developing and using advanced and coupled characterization techniques to understand the charge storage mechanisms in sodium-ion supercapacitors. Particular attention will be paid to the pre-sodiation of the negative electrode using sacrificial compounds introduced into the positive electrode: dissolution of the compound after sodiation, structural/microstructural changes of the electrodes, formation of electrode/electrolyte interface, among others. The implementation of operando/in-situ techniques coupled with electrochemical measurements should provide guidance to the project partners regarding the choice of electrode materials and electrolyte, the fabrication of the electrodes, and their combination in a complete system. The information obtained aims to increase the lifespan of sodium-ion supercapacitors while maintaining optimal energy and power densities.

Activités

Main tasks:
- Implementation of operando/in-situ characterizations for the study of electrodes and their interactions with the electrolyte.
- Electrochemical characterizations of electrodes and complete cells.
Additional activities:
- Supervision of interns working on part of the project.
- Writing reports and presenting work at monthly meetings.
- Writing scientific articles and/or patents.

Compétences

- The candidate must have a PhD in electrochemistry applied to energy storage devices (batteries and/or supercapacitors). Expertise in carbon-based materials would be highly desirable.
- Knowledge and (practical) experience with electrode/electrolyte interactions and advanced electrochemical characterization techniques (Raman, UV/visible, microscopies, etc.)
- Motivation, creativity, autonomy, rigor, and teamwork skills.
- Ability to communicate and promote work
- Ability to supervise interns
- Spoken and written English

Contexte de travail

The project is part of the MUSIC (Material for Sustainable Sodium-Ion Capacitors) project funded by the European Union (https://musicproject.eu/en) which brings together a consortium of 12 European members. This project aims to develop a new supercapacitor technology achieving an energy density comparable to that of power batteries but able to recharge in a few seconds and offer long life cycles with minimal loss of efficiency. In addition, the MUSIC project is part of a strong sustainable development approach by using bio-sourced materials instead of critical materials (Critical Raw Materials). The candidate will be located in the ST2E team of the Jean Rouxel Materials Institute of Nantes (IMN), UMR CNRS 6502, CNRS/University of Nantes, under the supervision of Prof. Thierry Brousse. The host team has extensive expertise in the field of battery and pseudo-capacitive materials acquired over the last 20 years through industrial partnerships and international collaborations.

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.

Contraintes et risques

Typical risks associated with a research project in the field of materials science and chemistry.
Travel: As this is a collaborative project, short stays in the partners' laboratories may be considered. Travel of a few days for meetings and conferences (possibly abroad) is also planned.