Postdoc on structural electrolytes for structural batteries

This call is for a postdoctoral position who will have a key role in an exciting interdisciplinary project between three departments at Chalmers university of technology. The aim of the project is to develop highly functional structural batteries for electric vehicles, ships and in particular aircrafts, where additional weight has to be minimized. The project encompasses applied and fundamental aspects of research, and the findings are expected to be utilized for the realization of novel structural batteries within a few years only.

Information about the research project
The purpose of this research project is to develop novel structural electrolytes for structural batteries. The structural battery is a modern battery concept that integrates mechanical strength and conductive properties of carbon fibres, which hence constitute an intimate part of anode and cathode electrodes. Differently from conventional batteries, the structural battery is a fibre reinforced polymer composite, developed to provide multiple functions desirably with an orientational dependence. In particular, the structural electrolyte needs to both transfer load and transport ions. However, this requires composite materials able to provide both high ionic conductivities and good mechanical properties. Unfortunately, such materials do not exist yet and it is the aim of this project to fill this gap. The project should lead to a deeper understanding of the operational mechanisms of the structural electrolytes, so their properties can be optimized for structural batteries.

The project is collaborative between three departments at Chalmers; Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Industrial and Materials Science, and the successful candidate of this position will be placed in the Division of Applied Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibility as postdoc is mainly to prepare/synthesize the composite electrolytes based on polymers and/or ionic liquids and perform Raman and IR measurements on them. NMR and diffusion NMR methods will also be considered. The work will be in very close collaboration with another postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Physics, who will perform experiments based on neutron scattering, dielectric spectroscopy and calorimetry as complementary experimental studies. The successful candidate should also take the main responsibility to write scientific papers about the experimentally obtained results.

Qualifications
To qualify for the position of postdoc, you must hold a doctoral degree awarded no more than three years prior to the application deadline (according to the current agreement with the Swedish Agency for Government Employers). A PhD in chemistry, physics, materials science or related field is required, as well as excellent language skills in English.

Specific qualifications of particular importance for the project are:
(a) Experience of research work on electrolytes and/or batteries
(b) Experience of research work on polymers and/or ionic liquids
(c) Experience of using Raman spectroscopy
(d) Knowledge in NMR spectroscopy

Swedish is not a requirement but Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Contract terms
This postdoc position is a full-time temporary employment for two years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure: Read more and apply here

Application deadline: 30th November, 2022

For questions, please contact:
Anna Martinelli, Applied Chemistry, anna.martinelli@chalmers.se, +46-31-772 3002

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