Postdoc in biobased composites as electrode material

The Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology (SBT) forms part of the Faculty of Forest Sciences and has about 50 employees in Umeå and Uppsala. The department carries research and under- and postgraduate education on a high international level and collaborates with society and industry to develop a bio-based economy where forest biomaterials are a vital resource. The Biomass Technology Center in Umeå is a pilot research facility dedicated to creating processes that simplify for the industry to use biobased by-products as raw materials and thereby opt-out of fossil alternatives. By developing knowledge at the interface between inherent raw material properties and downstream processes, we can tailor industrial feedstock assortments and design pre-treatment methods that generate functional components for new products.

Background:
The rapidly increasing global demand for clean and sustainable electricity requires a large-scale build-up of energy storage capacity in supercapacitors and batteries. It is not enough to replace fossil carbon-based energy carriers with electricity from renewable energy sources with low carbon emissions - we also need system solutions that consider the sustainability of the technologies used for energy storage. In today's batteries and supercapacitors, the electrodes consist mainly of graphite from fossil carbon, which needs to be replaced with environmentally sustainable materials.

Activated biomass-derived carbons have proved promising as electrode materials, but research on the subject is still at an early stage. Systematic studies are required to develop knowledge on the connection between the biomass precursors, activation and modification methods, and the biobased electrodes' electrochemical properties. Of specific interest is to explore how the integration of, e.g., silicon nanoparticles, APTES, TEOS, and heteroatoms in the carbon matrix affect the electrochemical performance of the electrodes.

The present research project is part of a larger collaboration project and concerns the development of new approaches for efficient anode materials fabrication for supercapacitors and batteries.

Tasks:
The selected candidate will conduct experimental research on the synthesis and chemical surface modification of bio-composite anode materials for supercapacitors and batteries. The candidate will be responsible for material characterization using standard microscopy (SEM, TEM) and surface analytical techniques (e.g., BET, XPS, and Raman). Furthermore, the candidate will assemble half and full-cell lab-scale Li-ion batteries and perform electroanalytical and electrochemical cell characterization.

The project is carried out within the research environments Bio4Energy (www.bio4energy.se) and Treesearch (www.treesearch.se) and thus provides unique access to research infrastructure and interdisciplinary collaborations. The research group has thorough expertise in biomass materials and thermal treatment and access to a unique infrastructure and technical support at the Biomass Technology Center (www.slu.se/en/sbt/btc). Electrochemistry is a new field of research for the department, and the applicant thus has significant influence over the project focus. The applicant is expected to take the primary responsibility for the practical implementation of the project, data collection, modeling of results, and scientific publication.

Qualifications:
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate interested in a continued academic career in biobased electrochemical technologies. Applicants must have extensive experience in electrochemistry, starting with a doctoral degree in Electrochemistry, Electrochemical Engineering, or Materials Science related to Electrochemistry. Documented expertise in making biobased, inorganic, composite, and polymer electrodes and conducting electroanalytical and electrochemical cell characterization is highly desirable. Experience in synchrotron-based electrode characterization techniques is meriting.

The applicant must have a proven ability to initiate independently, conduct and complete research projects, and create and publish the results in international scientific journals. Applicants must have excellent English written and oral communication skills, which should also be demonstrated in peer-reviewed publications and professional presentations. The applicant must have a proven ability to initiate independently, conduct and complete research projects, and create and publish the results in international scientific journals. The position is primarily aimed at junior researchers with a PhD of no more than three years.

Place of work:
Umeå, Sweden.

Type of employment:
Fixed-term employment of 24 months.

Percentage of employment:
100%

Starting date:
No later than April 2022. Preference will be given to applicants with the opportunity to start their employment within a short time.

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2022-01-15. To apply use the link at the end of the document.

Applications must be written in English and contain
i) a summary of research experience indicating the fulfillment of qualifications required for the position,
ii) Curriculum Vitae including a complete publication list clearly indicating peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications,
iii) contact information for three reference persons.

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses.

www.slu.se