Missions

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the development of a new generation of batteries based on alkaline battery chemistry, building on a proof of concept developed in 2024–2025 as part of a pre-maturation program supported by CNRS Innovation. The main objective of the project is to initiate the prototyping phase and design a battery capable of replacing, in the long term, AGM-type lead-acid auxiliary batteries.

In this context, the postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for:

Developing and optimizing different types of electrodes, notably through electrode casting or via self-standing electrodes made from polymer matrices (chitosan, CMC).

Studying and formulating additive-containing electrolytes capable of modulating water activity and, consequently, the zinc coordination sphere.

Designing and implementing an engineered organic layer on the zinc surface to serve as a protective barrier, and evaluating its performance at different temperatures.

Assembling and testing electrochemical cells (coin cells and larger-capacity prototypes) and contributing to the development of a cell targeting a capacity of approximately 1 Ah, with a final format envisioned as either a pouch cell or cylindrical cell.

Characterizing materials and interfaces using structural, electrochemical, and chemical techniques (including NMR if possible).

Analyzing, interpreting, and valorizing results in close collaboration with the CSE laboratory team (UMR 8260).
The selected candidate will join the CSE laboratory (UMR 8260) and work within a multidisciplinary environment combining electrochemistry, materials science, and energy systems engineering.

Activités

The position includes the characterization and study of electrodes, the preparation of electrolytes, the assembly of cells, and their aging, using various physico-chemical and electrochemical techniques. Interface chemistry and its stability will be examined using electrochemical and spectroscopic methods such as cyclic voltammetry (in oxidation and reduction), galvanostatic cycling, and resistance monitoring during cycling.
The main activities will include:
Deposition and analysis of zinc at different temperatures
Study of SEI formation in the presence of organic additives, on metallic zinc substrates as well as on carbon fibers
Fabrication of dry electrodes
Development of polymeric coatings on zinc to improve the efficiency of deposition and stripping processes
Analytical tools available in the laboratory include:
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
Access to many additional platforms and facilities is also available through the RS2E (French Network on Electrochemical Energy Storage).

Compétences

Ph.D. degree, ideally in the field of aqueous batteries or a closely related discipline.
Strong multidisciplinary background, including skills in materials science and electrochemistry.
In-depth understanding of electrodeposition processes and interfacial phenomena, particularly for metals such as zinc.
Ability to study and analyze zinc deposition at different temperatures and to identify the experimental conditions leading to the formation of dendritic structures.
Expertise in advanced materials characterization and interface analysis (electrochemical, spectroscopic, and microscopic techniques).
Ability to integrate and evaluate developed optimizations within a high-power prototype cell, in collaboration with the Energy Hub team in Amiens (Dr. Mathieu Morcrette).
Excellent organizational skills, scientific autonomy, and strong experimental rigor.
Very good command of English, both written and spoken, for interacting with project partners and disseminating results (meetings, reports, publications).

Contexte de travail

Majority of the work will be carried out in Chimie du solide et énergie at Collège de France, Paris. Few travels to other laboratories in RS2E network is expected based on the requirement.

Contraintes et risques

Nil