Electrochemical processes for water splitting and electric fuels production

PhD@IIT

IIT scholarship for PhD position available at the Università degli studi di Genova

A stepping-stone in your research career.

Istituto italiano di tecnologia - IIT - gives graduate students the opportunity to earn a doctoral degree by making good use of its state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities. All our supervisors have an international standing, interdisciplinarity is the rule and the environment is international; in short, if you want a challenging, but rewarding start for a career in research, we are here for you. 

IIT is not a degree-awarding body though.  

PhD students are registered at Università degli studi di Genova with which IIT has agreement and which awards the degree, and IIT provides the research environment and finances the bursaries that the University will eventually award to the students, after a public selection process. 

Description:

In a world that is facing several problems related to energy supply and climate change, the urge of enabling technologies for a green transition is at the center stage of current scientific and applied industrial research.

With the ambitious targets of replacing fossil fuels with more sustainable energy vectors, electrochemical-based processes open to the possibility of carbon-neutral synthesis of fuels while allowing the penetration of renewable energies in hard-to-abate sectors of the industry.

In line with the current projects under investigation in our laboratories, the present PhD research activity will be focused on developing new electrocatalysts for alkaline water splitting (i.e. PGM-free HER and OER catalysts) and for the electrochemical CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR). Benefitting from the extensive expertise of our group on nanocrystal synthesis, the candidate will participate in the rational design and synthesis of catalysts, preparation of catalytic inks and fabrication of electrodes. Electrochemical testing of such obtained electrodes will be carried out in H-cells (typical three-electrode configuration), on RDE (Rotating Disk Electrode) and in compartment flow-cells as to fully investigate the electrocatalytic activity of materials, from microkinetics to the performance under industrially relevant conditions. In collaboration with IIT partners (e.g. BeDimensional), it will be possible to assemble MEAs (Membrane Electrode Assemblies) based on the most promising catalysts, therefore proving catalytic performance under industrial conditions. Throughout the whole process of catalysts development and testing, a full physical-chemical characterization (structural, morphological and surface) of samples will pave the way to a deep understanding of structure-activity relationships and allow for the rational improvement of electrochemical activity.

Requirements: The ideal candidate must have a Master Degree in one of the following areas: Material Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Physics. Experience in synthesis of electrocatalysts and/or electrochemistry applied to energy conversion processes (i.e. water splitting, fuel cells, electrochemical CO₂ and/or N₂ reduction) will be considered a plus.

To  apply click here  https://unige.it/en/usg/en/phd-programmes and choose PhD Course in Science and Technology of Chemistry and Materials, curriculum "Nanochemistry" (Code 9308) from the list of PhD programmes https://unige.it/sites/contenuti.unige.it/files/documents/ALLEGATO_A_XXXVIII%20-%20EN.pdf – see page 99  Curriculum: NANOCHEMISTRY (CODE 9308) for the Course: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF CHEMISTRY AND MATERIALS

For further details concerning the research theme, please contact: [Email Address Removed],   [Email Address Removed]

For administrative issues contact  [Email Address Removed]