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CHEMISTRY OF SURFACES, INTERFACES and NANOMATERIALS (ChemSIN)
FACULTY OF SCIENCES – DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
A fully funded 1-year postdoctoral position is available with Prof. Jon Ustarroz at the Chemistry of Surfaces, Interfaces and Nanomaterials (ChemSIN), at the Faculty of Sciences of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). The project – EDNANO aims at resolving the electrochemical nucleation and growth of single entities by using a nanopipette-based experimental approach.
Electrodeposition offers the most versatile and scalable route for material growth. However, our current understanding is inaccurate and incomplete: electrochemical nucleation and growth (EN&G) does not proceed only by a classical pathway (direct attachment of ions from solution), but also by non-classical routes (nanocluster surface diffusion & aggregation, etc.).
The successful candidate will study the electrochemical nucleation and growth of noble (Au, Ag) and transition (Pt, Pd) metals by SECCM and electron microscopy (SEM & TEM), with emphasis in non-classical growth kinetics. In a next stage, the candidate will explore the coupling of the SECCM platform with in-situ complementary microscopic and spectroscopic techniques.
The quantification of non-classical pathways is highly challenging but can open new lines of research in material growth through electrodeposition. This project aims at experimentally resolving the earliest stages of electrochemical nucleation and growth, by focusing on the formation of a reduced number of nuclei (single-entities) and their interaction. This is possible by using Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy (SECCM), where the reaction cell is confined to the meniscus formed between a nanopipette and a substrate, together with in-situ complementary microscopic and spectroscopic techniques.
ChemSIN is a dynamic international research group that has recognized expertise in a wide range of domains across surface science (electrochemistry, surface analysis, heterogeneous catalysis and plasma chemistry). The current project contributes to the development of a novel research direction within ChemSIN: the nano-electrochemistry lab, led by Prof. Jon Ustarroz. The successful candidate will benefit from two recently installed state-of-art SECCM platforms, together with electrochemical workstations and surface analytical methods such as XPS, FESEM, TEM, or AFM, available both at ChemSIN (ULB) or at the SURF research group (VUB), where Prof. Ustarroz holds a part-time research professorship.
Profile
- You hold a PhD degree in chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering or a related field.
- You are independent and self-motivated, quality-oriented, creative and cooperative
- You are committed to write a post-doctoral grant application through one of the following granting schemes: H2020-MSCA Individual Fellowship, FNRS Chargé de Recherches, or similar.
- You have demonstrated experience in electrochemistry, including electrodeposition.
- Programming skills in LabVIEW for data acquisition and software for data processing (Matlab, Phython, IgorPro, etc.) are strongly appreciated.
- Experience in at least one of the following areas is a strong plus: nucleation and growth, local (nano) electrochemistry, scanning probe microscopy (AFM, STM, …).
- Language skills: excellent English (oral and written) is mandatory.
- Scientific communication skills: good at communicating orally and writing scientific results.
- Eligible applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Belgium for more than 24 months during the 3 years preceding the start of the fellowship.
Interested?
Applications should be sent by email to jon.ustarroz@ulb.be no later than the 15th September 2020 and should include:
- a cover letter motivating the application and describing how the applicant meets the selection criteria
- a CV, including a list of publications and contact details of two persons who can provide a reference
- 2 samples of your previous scientific activities that most represent your skills (i.e., full text of first author peer-reviewed manuscripts, or copy of PhD thesis).
The postdoctoral fellow will be hired for a one-year period, subject to renewal depending on performance and further funding availability. The net salary is between 2.400 and 2.600 euros, based on seniority level. The grant will be offered from the prestigious Belgian National Research Fund, FNRS (http://www.fnrs.be/). The starting date is envisaged from November 1st 2020 to January 1st 2021, according to the availability of the successful candidate.
