Postdoctoral Fellow in Metastable Nanomaterial Synthesis

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Fellow in metastable nanomaterial design and non-equilibrium process engineering to join our dynamic and interdisciplinary research team. The successful candidate will systematically explore non-equilibrium processes for high-throughput manufacturing of metastable nanocrystalline phases. Further, their untapped potential primarily for molecular (gas) sensing, but also for energy conversion, and/or catalytic processes will be assessed.

Breakthroughs in nanotechnology are mostly achieved through crystalline materials that are thermodynamically stable at operating conditions. Yet, plenty of such material systems feature intermediate phases that are energetically favorable under different conditions (temperature, pressure). To enable their exploration as functional materials in surface-active processes (e.g., heterogeneous catalysis, chemical sensing) as well as macroscale-property-driven applications (e.g., electronics), non-equilibrium synthesis need to be deployed.

We aim at leveraging combustion-aerosol techniques [Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 2022, 90, 100992] to enable on-demand synthesis of target metastable nanomaterials [Adv. Mater. 2024, 36, 2408888]. Your contribution will be investigating the effect of process parameters on the crystallographic and textural properties of as-produced nanoparticles, in relation to aerosol’s time-temperature history and the energetically expected structures detailed in equilibrium diagrams. The overarching goal is to establish general rules and thermodynamics-assisted heuristics for targeted metastable design. The effectiveness of such materials in the abovementioned applications will be assessed and compared to their thermodynamically stable analogues, to uncover their unique properties while fostering wider adoption and exploration.

• Design of non-equilibrium processes to trap metastable phases
• Crystallographic analysis to assess phase purity
• Aiding to establish process diagnostic tools to assess temperature distribution
• Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams, including material scientists, combustion engineers and computational material modelers
• Prepare manuscripts, reports, and presentations to disseminate findings

Qualification

• PhD in chemical/process engineering, materials science, chemistry or closely related field
• Experience in nanomaterial synthesis and characterization
• Proficiency in X-ray scattering (X-ray diffraction, X-ray PDF) techniques and data analysis
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (Proficient in English)

Preferred Qualification

• Experience in non-equilibrium synthesis techniques (flash joule heating, flame spray pyrolysis etc.)
• Knowledge of solid-state thermodynamic modeling software or equilibrium calculation tools (e.g., Thermo-Calc, HSC Chemistry, GEMS)
• Experience with chemoresistive sensing
• Experience in film deposition
• Experience with catalytic characterization (chemisorption, reaction kinetics)
• Experience with in situ IR, UV-Vis and X-ray absorption spectroscopies is highly valued
• Experience with synchrotron time application and utilization is welcome

• Opportunities to engage with different communities bridging materials/chemical/mechanical and biomedical research leading to high impact publications
• You will be part of a highly motivated, multidisciplinary and collaborative team
• We will support your scientific career and application for postdoctoral fellowships on your path towards scientific leadership
• You will have flexibility to develop your own line of research within the framework of this project
• We encourage the attendance of relevant (inter-) national conferences to increase your visibility and present the project outcomes
• You will be involved in the supervision of junior researchers and teaching in the lab
• Access to state-of-the-art computational resources and collaborative research networks