WISE Academy Postdoctoral in sustainable carbon composite electrodes

for energy storage

Luleå University of Technology experiences rapid growth with world-leading expertise within several research domains. We shape the future through innovative education and groundbreaking research results and drawing on our location in the Arctic region, we create global societal benefit. Our scientific and artistic research and education are carried out in close collaboration with international, national and regional companies, public actors and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has an annual turnover of SEK 1.9 billion. Today, we have 1,815 staff and 19,155 students.

In the coming years, multi-billion investments will be made in large projects in Northern Sweden to create a fossil-free society both nationally and globally. Luleå University of Technology is involved in several of these cutting-edge research projects and in the societal transformation that they entail. We offer a broad range of courses and study programmes to match the skills in demand. We hope that you will help us to build the sustainable companies and societies of the future.

Division of Materials Science, with about 60 employees, is leading the research in bio-based composite materials and their processing, structural characterization, and applications. We are looking for a highly motivated Postdoctor with PhD-degree for development of functional carbon aerogels and networks with tailored porosity impregnated with a solid electrolyte and tested for energy storage.

Subject description
Wood and Bionanocomposites covers the development of energy efficient manufacturing processes of eco-friendly composite materials and products based on various biofibers in nano- and micrometer scale.

Project description
This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE), wise-materials.org. WISE, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and will encompass major efforts at Sweden’s foremost universities over the course of 10 years. The vision is a sustainable future through materials science.

All early-stage researchers recruited into the WISE program will be a part of the WISE Graduate School, an ambitious nationwide program of seminars, courses, research visits, and other activities to promote a strong multi-disciplinary and international network between PhD students, postdocs, researchers and industry.

The project is dealing with experimental procedures and theoretical modeling for development of functional carbon nanomaterials with large specific surface from bio-based and renewable low-cost precursors. The fabricated 3D-structures are carbonized to carbon nanofiber mats and carbon aerogels where the used material combinations together with the forming processes and carbonization will tailor the material structure, porosity, pore size distribution and the surface area. These carbon materials are impregnated with a solid polymer electrolyte such to create solid-state multifunctional nanocomposite. The fabricated composite electrodes are studied using advanced characterization methods such as DMTA, BET, AFM, HR-SEM, Raman, FTIR, XRD, WAXS, XMT and MAX IV, and the electrochemical properties of these hierarchical multistructural carbon nanocomposites are validated for energy storage applications. The theoretical modeling is contributing on knowledge of the needed network structure for the composite processing as well as the hierarchical porosity of the electrode materials and the role of the polymer electrolyte on the final electrochemical property.

Duties
The postdoctoral position is appointed primarily for purposes of research. You are expected to be responsible for develop novel green carbon-based electrodes, study their structure-property relation and interaction with a solid polymer electrolyte. You are expected to work closely with other members in the group and collaborate with researchers in the WISE program. In addition to research works, you are going to be involved in writing of publications, and take part in laboratory management. You will join a WISE research network including of PhD-students, postdocs, and junior researchers.

Qualifications
In order to be eligible for employment as post doctor you must have a PhD or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD in materials science, materials chemistry or equivalent by the start date of the appointment. A doctoral degree awarded no more than three years before the application deadline provides a useful qualification. Candidates who have been awarded a doctoral degree at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds, for example, different types of statutory leave of absence.

Preferred and necessary qualifications is to have a background and experience in battery development, electrochemical testing and device development. Experience in composite processing is preferred but not necessary. Other valuable qualifications are a strong capacity to work independently, including designing and conducting experiments, preparing and preforming high-quality scientific presentations and publications. We also value good cooperation and communication skills, the ability to work as a part of a team and good skills in spoken and written English.

Further information
Full-time fixed term employment for two years with possibility for extension one more year with placement in Luleå. Starting: 2023-04-01 or as per agreement.

For further information about the position please contact Professor Kristiina Oksman, +46 70 358 5371, Kristiina.oksman@ltu.se

Union representatives
SACO-S Kjell Johansson +(46)920-49 1529 kjell.johansson@ltu.se
OFR-S Lars Frisk, (+46)920-49 1792 lars.frisk@ltu.se

In case of different interpretations of the English and Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

Application
We prefer that you apply for this position by clicking on the apply button below. The ap-plication should include a CV, list of publication, personal letter, two or three references, copies of verified diplomas from high school and universities. Your application, including diplomas, must be written in English or Swedish.

Closing date for application: March 6, 2023
Reference number: 484-2023