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- PhD position - Investigation of Si-based anodes for Li-ion batteries
Project Title: Investigation of Si-based anodes for Li-ion batteries using X-rays and Neutron 3D/4D imaging techniques
You will join the D50/NeXT team at the ILL. D50/NeXT is an imaging instrument at a high-flux cold neutron guide and also provides x rays via a microfocus tube source for correlative neutron / x-ray imaging experiments (radiography, computed tomography and laminography). The aim of the PhD project is to perform operando characterization of Li-ion battery cells composed of Si/graphite-composite anodes, in representative conditions, via advanced neutron and x-ray imaging techniques and combined with traditional post-mortem/ex situ characterization methods. The scientific program will be conducted in collaboration with CEA (Grenoble) and MCL (Austria). A battery cell for operando measurements at both ESRF and ILL will be designed jointly with CEA while industrially assembled batteries will be manufactured in collaboration with the industrial partner VARTA Micro Innovation GmbH, Austria. The final aim is to provide in-depth understanding of the Si-based cell behaviour at microscopic scales. Working in close collaboration with the ID31 beamline at the ESRF, you will also be able to use operando synchrotron SAXS and WAXS tomography to study the local degradation and ageing inside the cell. You will also develop and apply data evaluation and computational methodologies, including e.g. machine learning algorithms, for enhanced data analysis and statistically relevant 3D data quantification in collaboration with MCL, Austria. The correlative evaluation of the ILL and ESRF experiment results will considerably help us to establish efficient multi-modal characterisation of anodes during cycling, essential for the development of more advanced anode materials.
Further information may be obtained from Lukas HELFEN (tel.: +33 (0)4 57 20 80 89, email: helfen@ill.fr) and from Jakub DRNEC (+33 (0)4 76 88 19 16, email: jakub.drnec@esrf.fr).
More details about the application procedure on www.innovaxn.eu/for-students/documents/
The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Physics doctoral school of University Grenoble Alpes, supervised by S. Lyonnard (CEA, Habilitated in Physics) and based full-time at the ILL (Grenoble, France), other than a 3-month secondment at Varta Micro Innovation GmbH, Austria. Additional visits totaling no more than 3 months may be made to the Materials Center Leoben, Austria and to the CEA when needed. Furthermore, a varied pedagogical training programme will be offered to the successful candidate throughout the 3-year PhD project.
More details on the InnovaXN programme on www.innovaxn.eu
InnovaXN is a Horizon 2020 MSCA COFUND programme providing an opportunity for 40 industrial companies to work with 40 PhD students, performing advanced research and exploiting the unique characterisation techniques of the ESRF and ILL. Through collaborations with industry, innovation will be the central theme of the programme. This will provide a unique cross academic-industry science setting, secondment opportunities and society-relevant research, training the future key researchers able to tackle major research and societal challenges.