PhD student in Surface Engineering for Flow Battery Electrodes

Project description

Research education subject: Chemical Engineering and Chemical Science

Flow batteries are a promising technology for stationary and long-term energy storage (8 hours or longer). Regarding cost and power output, the electrode is a critical component that needs to meet high requirements for electrical conductivity, large active surface area, electrocatalytic activity, as well as chemical and mechanical stability. To enable continued development of electrodes, more research is required to understand the relationship between the electrode's surface properties and the battery's power output. This project aims to create fundamental and technical understanding for electrodes in flow batteries by combining innovative surface treatment of electrodes with two-dimensional transition metal carbides at KTH with the development of carbon fiber nanostructures at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). The experimental results will be used to develop a multiphysical model to calculate the electrode's properties and predict electrode utilization, current density distribution, and limits for power density. The doctoral student will spend one year at China-UK Low Carbon College, SJTU. We are looking for a person with an interest in electrochemistry and batteries, combined with basic competence in material characterization.

Supervision: Asst. Prof. Amirreza Khataee and Assoc. Prof. Ya Ji are proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decision is made upon admission

Eligibility for admission

To be admitted to doctoral studies (Chapter 7, Section 39 of the Higher Education Ordinance) the applicant must have basic eligibility:

completed a degree at an advanced level, or fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at an advanced level, or have acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, knowledge mainly corresponding to this.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

To succeed in your doctoral studies at KTH, you need to be goal-oriented and persistent in your work. During the selection of applicants, the ability to:

independently drive your work forward, be able to collaborate with others, have a professional approach and analyze and work with complex issues. Knowledge in electrochemistry and flow batteries is meritorious.

After the eligibility requirements, great importance will be placed on personal qualities.

Target degree: PhD

Information about admission and employment

Only those admitted to doctoral studies may be employed as a doctoral student. The total period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time education at the doctoral level for four years. An employed doctoral student may, to a limited extent (at most 20%), perform certain tasks within, e.g., education and administration. A new employment as a doctoral student is valid for at most one year; the employment may thereafter be renewed for at most two years at a time.

As a doctoral student, you will benefit from KTH's employment benefits and have a monthly salary according to KTH's agreement for doctoral salaries. Read more about Forskarstudier vid KTH | KTH | Sweden.

Union representatives

Contact details for union representatives.

The Doctoral Section (Tekniska högskolans studentkår)

Contact details for the doctoral section.

Application

You apply via KTH's recruitment system. As an applicant, you are primarily responsible for ensuring that your application is complete when it is submitted.

The application shall contain the following:

Copies of degree certificates and transcripts from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations to English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified. CV with relevant professional experience and knowledge. Cover letter with a concise account of why you want to pursue doctoral studies, about your academic interests and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Max 2 pages) Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please attach a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

The application must reach KTH no later than the last application date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Other

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