Postdoctoral Appointee: Researcher – Advanced Material and Membrane Development for Energy Storage Applications

About the role

The Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group in the Applied Materials Division (AMD) seeks a postdoctoral researcher to develop materials, membranes, and fabrication processes for energy storage applications. This position involves exploring optimum synthesis conditions for battery electrolyte materials, solid-state electrolyte films, and membrane electrode fabrication.

Responsibilities

• Explore optimum synthesis conditions for battery electrolyte material, solid-state electrolyte film, and membrane electrode fabrication.
• Formulate slurry to achieve desirable processibility for coating and printing.
• Study the coating and drying conditions to control membrane microstructures and transport properties.
• Design electrodes, electrolyte, and interfacial layers for solid-state batteries.
• Characterize mass transport phenomena.
• Develop techniques and strategies for electrochemical measurements and post-mortem analysis.
• Write reports and high impact papers, and present research at conferences.
• Develop or support the development of collaborations with academia and industry.

Requirements

• Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (typically completed within the last 0-5 years) in chemical engineering, material science, or related fields.
• Demonstrated knowledge in materials synthesis and characterization.
• Demonstrated knowledge in battery (e.g., lithium ion, solid-state, sodium ion, lithium air, lithium sulfur, etc.).
• Demonstrated knowledge of transport property study.
• Experience in ink synthesis and characterization.
• Experience in coating, printing, or any other wet-chemistry deposition techniques.
• Experience using analytical tools, such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), spectroscopy (FTIR and Raman), and electrochemical (EIS and battery cycler).
• Publishation record with excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability/aptitude to contribute to proposal writing, write reports, and publish journal papers and patents.
• A successful candidate must model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

Position Requirements

• On-site presence at the Argonne campus in Lemont, Illinois, 5 days per week.
• Skilled oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with blade casting or slot-die coating.
• Experience with electrospinning.
• Experience with aerosol jet printing or 3D printing.
• Highly self-motivated candidate who demonstrates creative and proactive approaches towards scientific problem solving as evidenced by publications and recommendations.
• Proven track record showing the ability to carry out independent and collaborative research in a multidisciplinary team while meeting project milestones and deadlines.