[OFER-TRABEC] NAC: PhD Fellowship: Insight into ionic transport ...

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---Procedencia:
Institución:CIC Energigune
Contacto correo-e:info@cicenergigune.com
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PhD Fellowship: Insight into ionic transport in nanoporous carbon electrodes of electrochemical double-layer capacitors

Supervisors: Dr. Roman Mysyk

Goal: Understanding the main attributes of ionic transport in nanoporous activated carbons with narrow pore size distribution and tunable average pore size.

Approach: A series of nanoporous carbons with gradually increasing average pore size will be synthesized by carefully adjusting the synthesis conditions. The nanoporous carbons will then be subjected to electrochemical characterization using traditional electrochemical techniques: cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic measurements, impedance spectroscopy. Instrumental methods such as nitrogen and CO2 adsorption, thermally programmed desorption and others will also be employed for characterizing the textural properties of nanoporous carbon materials. A series of electrolytes, including industrial supercapacitor electrolyte, will be selected to study electrosorption features in nanopores: ion confinement, ion trapping, and the differences in ion transport between rigid and flexible ions. Particularly, an electrochemical quartz microbalance (EQCM) system will be used as an in situ probe for gravimetric change simultaneously occurring on electrochemical cycling.

Interest of the project: One of the hot topics in today´s research on electrochemical double layer capacitors is unveiling the features of the interactions between the nanopore entrances/walls and the electrolyte ions, which has direct impact on supercapacitor performances. Recent results show significant improvements in capacitance for an electrode pore size of about 1 nm, but the reasons for such behavior are not yet fully understood. Hypotheses such as partial ion desolvation have been inferred from electrochemical data, but there is still sensible lack of direct evidence for ion behavior in the smallest accessible pores, mostly contributing to capacitance. Recently, in situ gravimetric studies using the EQCM technique have revealed several unexpected features like mixed ionic transport in the vicinity of the potential of zero charge. However, this work is limited to only one type of nanoporous carbons whose porosity access is not hindered to the ions from standard indust
rial electrolyte, tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate in organic solvents. Our goal will be to answer the question of how pore accessibility impacts ionic transport inside pores by conducting an extensive study applying both the carbons with gradually changing pore size and the electrolyte ions with varying shape and size. The proposed research programme will allow the successful applicant to develop his skills in materials science and applied electrochemistry

What we offer

Eligible candidates must be registered master students at the UPV/EHU or at other European Universities and being eligible for pre-doctoral fellowship programs.

The contract will commence between September and November 2012. By then, the student should hold the Master degree to have access to the PhD program of a University.

Interested candidates please e-mail the supervisor with its reference in the subject including the following information:

A cover letter
Your CV including the BA/BSc qualification on a scale of 1-4
Names (including e-mail address) of at least two referees
(*) for non-european candidates, the position will be available only once researchers obtain all the immigration permits.

What we need

1.- Conditions

- Eligible students: candidates must hold a Master degree before the PhD fellowship begins
- National and international candidates are elegible.
- English and skill communications would be particularly valuable.
- Candidates should be highly motivated to pursue a scientific career
- Length: 3 years
- Economical offer: 18.500 € gross per year (aprox. 15.000 net)
- Funding:
* 5 best researchers evaluated: CIC Energigune will assume the investment based on its internal funds. Nevertheless those candidates will be encouraged to apply for grants.
* Other candidates: CIC Energigune will evaluate the possibility of offering a position based on obtaining a grant.


2.- Estimated cost of living in Vitoria

Items
Per Student Per Month (SGD)

Food
200

Accommodation - per person based on appartment sharing (own bedroom)
250 - 400

Transport Expenses (local)
40

Total Estimated Cost of Living
490 -640



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Información complementaria de la oferta:
Apply by website www.cicenergigune.com

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