Postdoc in Single Particle Catalysis

The Langhammer Group at Chalmers University of Technology is looking for a highly motivated Postdoc with a background in surface science/surface reactions to work in the area of single particle catalysis in nanofluidic reactors combined with revolutionary optical microscopy techniques.

Project description
The ability to directly correlate the catalytic activity of a single nanoparticle in the sub-10 nm size range with surface state, composition and size at operando conditions is the ultimate vision of a research field called "Single Particle Catalysis". This vision is driven by the prospect of unprecedented fundamental insights beyond the current research frontier. Such insights will provide design rules for superior catalyst materials critically needed to address some of humanity’s grand challenges and the UN goals for sustainable development in the energy, environmental clean-up and fine chemical synthesis for drug development areas, for all of which catalysis is a key technology. However, to date such experiments and the corresponding ultimate level of insight remain unrealized, despite significant advances in the field. To adress this challenge, we have pioneered the use of nanofluidics combined with optical microscopy to address catalytic reactions on single nanoparticles in new ways, as summarized in the following papers: Albinsson, D., et al. ACS Catalysis, 2021, 11, 4, 2021–2033; Albinsson, D., et al. Nature Communications 2020, 11(1): 4832; Albinsson D., et al. Science Advances 2020, 6, 25, eaba7678; Levin, S.; et al. Nature Communications 2019, 10, 4426.

The focus of this postdoc position is to further push our nanofluidics approach to single particle catalysis to the sub-10 nm particle size regime by also implementing the revolutionizing nanofluidic scattering microscopy concept that we recently have discovered (Špačková, B., et al. Nature Methods, 2022, 19, 751–758) with mass spectrometry from nanofluidic reactors (Albinsson D., et al. Science Advances 2020, 6, 25, eaba7678), to enable beyond-state-of-the-art operando characterization of catalytic processes on individual nanoparticles with well-defined and characterized size, shape and chemical composition. The  topic of this postdoc project thus lies at the interface between surface science, heterogeneous catalysis, nanofluidics and advanced optical microscopy, and is part of a recently granted ERC project.

Information about the division and the department
The Langhammer group at the Chemical Physics Divison at the Department of Physics operates at the interface between materials science, nanoscience, catalysis, nanoplasmonics and in situ spectroscopy, with a particular focus on sustainable energy-related materials, nanosensors and nanoparticles. For that purpose we continuously develop and evolve our own methodologies for state-of-the-art nanofabrication, as well as build our own customized research instrumentation. Now we intensify our efforts towards the development of nanofluidics-based methodologies for the study of catalytic reactions on single nanoparticles.

For more info, please visit our group home page: www.langhammerlab.se and the homepage of the Division of Chemical Physics that hosts the group.

Major responsibilities
The Postdoc will work with the design, construction, evaluation and operation of new experimental setups that  unite single particle plasmonic nanospectrocopy, nanofluidic scattering microscopy and mass spectrometry from nanofluidic reactors with the overarching aim to characterize catalytic processes at the individual nanoparticle level in a quantitative fashion.

Key parts of the work will be:
- Design, construction and operation of new ground breaking research instrumentation.
- Single particle plasmonic nanospectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and nanofluidic scattering microscopy in combination catatalytic reactions on individual nanoparticles.
- Evaluation of model catalytic processes at the single particle level using the developed experimental setups.

Qualifications
The following qualifications are mandatory:
- a PhD in Physics, Nanoscience, Materials Science or Chemistry, ideally with focus on experimental catalysis/chemical physics from a surface science perspective.
- Excellent skills in English, both written and oral.
- Excellent social skills and team player attitude with the interest to mentor PhD students.
- You must hold a doctoral degree awarded no more than three years prior to the application deadline.

The following qualifications are considered a merit:
- Earlier Post doc experience.
- Active involvement in the design and building of advanced reasearch instrumentation that includes vacuum systems and quadrupole mass spectrometers.
- Experience with a model-system type of catalysis research.
- Hands-on nanofabrication experience
- Hands-on experience heterogeneous catalysis
- Hands-on experience with advanced optical microscopy
- Computer programming skills using Python and MATLAB
- Experience with numerical simulation tools such as Comsol Multiphysics or FDTD tools
- Experience with analysis of complex scientific data e.g. through machine learning.
The position also requires excellent communication skills in written and spoken English. Applicants who do not have English or a Scandinavian language as their mother tongue need to provide documentation of good communication skills in English, typically evidenced by an English language test, for example TOEFL 550 (paper-based)/TOEFL 213 (computer-based), and exemplified during the interview process prior to admission.

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***