DTU is a leading technical university in northern Europe and benchmarks with the best universities in the world. The number of publications in frequently cited scientific journals has increased in recent years, and 44% of the publications registered by the Science Citation Index of the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) in 2005 were prepared in collaboration with one or more researchers based outside Denmark. The internationalization of DTU also continued with more than one fifth of DTU's scientific staff being recruited from outside Denmark and with an increasing number of international students.

Two PhD scholarships

in materials for lithium-air batteries

The Section for Atomic Scale Modeling and Materials at the Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, is seeking candidates for two PhD scholarships on the development of new lithium-air batteries. The scholarships are part of the research project, ReLiable, which is financed by the Danish Council for Strategic Research, Sustainable Energy and Environment, and involves academic partners from SDU and Stanford University, as well as the industrial partners Haldor Topsøe A/S and Lithium Balance.
 
Project description
Lithium-air battery technology has the potential of a many-fold increase in energy storage density compared to conventional lithium batteries. There are many challenges, especially related to energy efficiency, reversibility and current density, which must first be overcome. The ReLiable project will address these challenges using a combination of theoretical and experimental methods.
 
One of the major obstacles in making an efficient lithium-air battery is the properties and design of the cathode and cathode support. Specific challenges are to improve the electronic conduction, the kinetics and minimizing the overpotential and capacity loss.
 
The topics for the two PhD projects are:
 
Synthesis and characterization of new cathode materials for lithium-air batteries
New porous cathode support materials and composites will be prepared, with a specific focus on microstructure, nanostructuring and catalytic properties. The materials will be characterized using e.g. in situ X-ray and neutron scattering. Part of the project will be to develop specialized micro lithium-air battery cells for in situ synchrotron X-ray studies.
 
Computational analysis and design of new materials for lithium-air batteries
The project will focus on developing a detailed understanding of the rate-limiting mechanisms for charge and discharge of Li-air batteries and apply this to design novel materials and catalysts. Computational predictor based screening studies using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and database methods will be used to select optimal materials combinations.
 
Qualifications
Candidates should have a master's degree in physics, chemistry or materials science or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the master's degree in engineering.
 
The successful candidate has good communication skills in English, both written and spoken, and is able to work independently and take responsibility for progress and quality of projects. We favor candidates with experience in computational/theoretical physics, chemistry and related areas.
 
We offer
We offer an interesting and challenging job in an international environment focusing on education, research, public-sector consultancy and innovation, which contribute to enhancing the economy and improving social welfare. We strive for academic excellence, collegial respect and freedom tempered by responsibility. The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is a leading technical university in northern Europe and benchmarks with the best universities in the world.
 
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.
 
Salary and appointment terms
The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students. The period of employment is 3 years. The place of work will be DTU’s Risø Campus in Roskilde and partly at Lyngby Campus for the theoretical position. The employment is expected to start 1 April 2012 or as soon as possible.
 
Further information
If you need further information concerning these positions, please contact Head of Section Tejs Vegge, +45 4677 5818 or Senior Researcher Poul Norby, +45 4677 4726 (please do not send email applications directly, but use the electronic submission system - see below).
 
Application
We must have your online application by 21 February 2012. Please apply online on www.dtu.dk/career and open the link "apply for this job online" and fill in the application form. In the field "Please indicate which position(s) you would like to apply for” please state which of the two project you are applying for. In the end please attach the following documents;
 
A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
Curriculum vitae
Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma
Excel sheet with translation of grades to the Danish grading system (see guidelines and excel spreadsheet here)
Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master's degree, but cannot begin before having received it.
 
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.
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