PhD - Identifying and Understanding the Degradation Mechanisms in PEM Electrolyzer under Industrially Relevant Operating Conditions

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Employment type: Limited Working hours: Full-Time Joblocation: Renningen Proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis is one of the commerically available technologies for green hydrogen production. Understanding the ageing behaviors of PEM electrolyzer components under industrially relevant operating conditions is of paramount importance for developing a low cost and robust PEM electrolyzer stack as well as further improving the stack operation strategy. You will work on identifying and undertanding the degradation mechanisms of one core component in the PEM electrolyzers. Both electrochemical and analytical methods will be developed and validated as ageing descriptors in this project. Through the design of experiments (DOE) at sub-scale the main ageing stressors of the individual component are captured, degradation mechanisms are elucidated. Based on the understanding a specific ageing model will be established to predict the state of health (SoH) under industrial operating conditions. Create something new: Work with an international research team, cooperating with product development team, take advantage of in-field operational data shared by customers, uncover the degradation mechanisms of the PEM electrolyzer in real world operation. Do excellent research: Make active use of the available expertise in our internal research team and your academic environment. Take responsibility: Being a doer instead of a dreamer, you are encouraged to take initiatives towards your PhD project progress under the economies of both industrial and academic supervisors. Being aware that an hour spent on literature research or at the phone can save months of laboratory work, you make sure that you are on top of both external and internal knowledge, in order to deliver a most valuable contribution. Share your knowledge: Boost the work of our internal interdisciplinary and international research team, and publish your results in high-impact journals.

Education: excellent Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Engineering or related Physics Experience and Knowledge: solid background in electrochemistry and electrochemical reactors, e.g. PEM fuel cells, PEM or AEM electrolyzers; hands-on experience with characterization of fuel cell or electrolyzer sub-scale cells; familiar with standard electrochemical methods, e.g. CV, LSV, EIS etc.; basic programming skills (e.g. Python) and experience with simulation tools (Comsol) or numerical optimization approaches is beneficial Personality and Working Practice: you are open-minded, critical regarding thinking questions scientific, collaborative, highly motivated and eager to learn Languages: very good in English, German is helpful, but not mandatory

Work-life balance: Flexible working in terms of time, place and working model. Health & Sports: Wide range of health and sports activities. Childcare: Intermediary service for childcare services. Employee discounts: Discounts for employees. Room for creativity: Space for creative work. In-house social counseling and care services: Social counselling and intermediary service for care services.

The recruitment contact or superior will be happy to provide information about the individual benefit plan. JOBV1_EN