CDD Chercheur (M/F): Solid State Na-ion batteries. Exploring the electrode/electrolyte interface with in-situ/operando techniques

Job Description

Missions

-The NAFMAT group at the CEMHTI-CNRS laboratory (UPR 3079) at Orléans, France is offering a 12 months postdoctoral position in the field of electrochemical energy storage. Dr Raymundo-Piñero, Research Director at the CNRS, will supervise the researcher.
Improving the energy efficiency of systems is now an important objective for reducing fossil fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. Electrochemical energy storage systems can play a significant role in this strategy by enabling lost energy to be recovered and delivered on demand.
Solid-state sodium-ion batteries (SSSIBs) are emerging as the most efficient short-term energy storage solution that avoids the use of critical raw materials. However, materials that can be used in the electrodes and electrolyte to meet performance requirements in terms of energy density and stability still need to be developed. The main objective of the project is to design and produce sustainable electrode materials and polymer-based electrolytes through efficient and scalable processes. The project involves three academic partners from three different countries and one company. The mission of the NAFMAT team at the CEMHTI laboratory within the project will be to select electrode materials and electrolytes developed by the other partners that can withstand high energy density and cycle life to fulfil the requirements imposed by the end user involved in the project. The postdoctoral researcher on the NAFMAT team at CEMHTI will therefore be expected to investigate the phenomena occurring at the electrode/electrolyte interface in order to develop a lab-scale flexible SSSIB with an optimised architecture that exhibits high energy densities while maintaining high power density and good cycle life. In-depth understanding of the charge storage mechanisms at the electrode/electrolyte interface, using cells and in situ methodologies previously developed at CNRS-CEMHTI, including Raman, NMR and gas spectrometry, will provide insight into the relationships between these processes and the physicochemical properties of the materials, which depend on the synthesis conditions.

Activity

In the project, the fellow activities will include:
- The implementation of the materials developed by other partners in laboratory test cells: Swagelok®, coin-cells and finally pouch cells to optimize the cell architecture to be later up-scaled for the end-user.
- The use of several electrochemical techniques for evaluating the performance.
- The comparison of the electrochemical results with the physico-chemical characteristics in order to define optimization strategies.
- The use/development of advanced in situ/operando techniques including NMR, Raman and mass spectrometry for exploring the electrode/electrolyte interface and evaluate charge storage and ageing mechanisms.

Your Profil

Skills

-A PhD degree in materials science and electrochemistry, particularly in the field of electrochemical energy storage.
- The candidate should have an important background on electrochemical cells assembling and testing
- Communication skills in English to contribute to scientific dissemination actions

Your Work Environment

The CEMHTI is a CNRS research unit spread across two nearby sites (High Temperature and Cyclotron) and employing around 100 people. The laboratory develops expertise and original tools at the national and international level to study, in particular, the physicochemical properties of materials under extreme conditions in situ. The researcher will be based at the laboratory's high temperature site and will join the NAFMAT team. The NAFMAT group of CEMHTI-CNRS laboratory has a long-standing interest and a widely recognized experience on research activities related to design, characterization and modification of nanoporous materials (from different precursors and synthetic routes) with modulated properties for their use as electrodes, catalysts and adsorbents in high-tech applications covering energy storage and environmental protection.
Over the years, the group has accumulated know-how and experience in materials science for fundamental and applied research and have a strong background in i) development of new materials based on nanotextured carbons or carbon/metal oxide for applications in the field of electrochemical energy storage and air/water pollution control, ii) study of material/environment interfaces by developing new in situ/operando techniques based on solid-state NMR, Raman or gas spectrometry, with a particular focus on electrode/electrolyte interfaces in batteries and supercapacitors and iii) development of electrochemical storage systems with high energy and power density using sustainable materials.
NAFMAT group is currently composed by 10 persons: 3 Research Directors (permanent staff), 3 engineers (permanent staff), 2 postdoctoral researchers, and 5 PhD fellows. Over the last years, the group has supervised 7 PhD theses, filed 8 patents and published more than 200 papers in peer-reviews journals. The group holds strong collaboration with other highly recognized national and international institutions, as well as large experience on coordinating and participating in R&D projects and industrial contracts. Current activities are funded by several excellence European Union programs, as well as Regional and National projects.
Dr. Raymundo-Piñero is Research Director of CNRS, NAFMAT group leader at CEMHTI (CNRS, UPR 3079, Orléans) and acts as Principal Investigator of this project.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Salary between €3,041.58 and €4,216.70 monthly gross, depending on experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions