PhD scholarship in Li-Metal all Solid-State Battery with Ceramic Electrolyte – DTU Energy

Is your phone battery running out? Do you want to make a battery that lasts for a week without recharging? This PhD position might just be for you where we will make a fully inorganic solid-state battery with ceramics with high energy density. The solid battery will both be safer and last longer.
The Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), invites applications for a PhD scholarship in the development of all solid-state Li-metal batteries for safer and efficient electrochemical energy storage.

A battery is nothing, but an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte. However, the electrolyte of a solid battery must have a high ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability. We will employ a garnet structured ceramic, Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) as the electrolyte. The fabrication of the electrolyte will be done by field assisted sintering technology to ensure high density.

The aim of the PhD work is to fabricate a solid-state Li metal battery with a performance at par with the state-of-the-art liquid electrolyte Li-ion battery. This would be achieved by obtaining a better understanding of cathode-electrolyte interfacial integrity and dendrite growth mechanisms.

Responsibilities and qualifications
As our new PhD student you will be investigating the interfacial integrity of electrochemical plating/stripping of Li at the LLZO/Li interface and be working on developing new cathode with mixed Li ionic and electronic conduction based on LNMO and LLZO.

As part of the PhD education, you will follow courses and assist in teaching activities, and:

• You are expected to spend at least 3 months at a foreign research institution.
• You are expected to disseminate your work in international peer reviewed journals and at international conferences.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. Ideally, your master’s degree is in, chemistry, physics, or material science engineering and strong experimental experience in electrochemical energy storage and have excellent knowledge of solid-state chemistry. Moreover, experience in all-solid-state battery system, field assisted sintering technology and impedance spectroscopy will be beneficial.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment
Your application will be assessed by Dr. Apurv Dash, Prof. Poul Ægidius Norby and Prof. Wolff-Ragnar Kiebach.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
If you have further questions, please contact Assistant Professor Apurv Dash ([email protected]), DTU Energy.

You can read more about DTU Energy at www.energy.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 31 July 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter).
• Curriculum vitae.
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale.
• Relevant research experience in the form of reports or short description or list of publications
• A list of references (minimum 3) you have worked in direct collaboration.

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Department of Energy Conversion and Storage (DTU Energy) focuses on research and development of functional materials, components, and systems for sustainable energy technologies. The technologies include fuel cells, electrolysis, power-to-x, batteries, and carbon capture. The research is based on strong competences on electrochemistry, atomic scale and multi-physics modelling, autonomous materials discovery, materials processing, and structural analyses. We also focus on educating engineering students at all levels, ranging from BSc, MSc, PhD to lifelong learning students. We have about 270 dedicated employees. Read more about us at www.energy.dtu.dk.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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