The Mind_Gap programme is fundamental in nature and set to enhance and tune ion selectivity, aiming to achieve ion recovery. Recently we hired two PhD students who work on intercalation materials. Now we are looking for a candidate who will work on organic frameworks. From these selected materials electrodes will be made and characterized with various techniques in terms of their morphology, chemical composition, crystallinity and possibly also redox properties. Next, their separation performance when applied in electrochemical deionization will be studied. This includes the optimization of operation parameters such as applied current, cell voltage, ion concentration and pH. Membranes will be used to further enhance the selectivity. Improvement of the electrode stability and upscaling the ion separation process are two challenges that will be addressed. Key research questions are: Which ions can be targeted with the electrodes made from new building blocks? Can we understand the underlying mechanisms that contribute to selectivity? What is the electrochemical stability of the new electrodes, and how to improve it? What are the upscaling limitations/possibilities?
The work will be performed in close collaboration with Wetsus and several industrial partners

Key activities include:

• prepare and characterize organic nanomaterials;
• thoroughly study the potential of these materials as electrode materials in electrochemical deionization technologies;
• thoroughly study the physical and (electro)chemical principles that result in (selective) electrosorption of ions of interest;
• teach chemistry classes;
• publish research results in peer-reviewed journals and write a doctoral thesis.

The PhD positions are part of a larger programme (Mind_Gap) that aims to explore and develop various innovative electrochemical separation technologies for water treatment, ion separation and ion recovery. To that end, advanced energy-storage nanomaterials will be used. The project is funded by the Dutch Research Council and will include three PhD students and two postdoctoral researchers by the end of 2025.