Cell manufacturing and electrochemical testing of solid-state batteries
Holding a PhD in electrochemistry, materials science, chemistry, or process engineering, the postdoctoral researcher will work closely with project partners on the development of manufacturing processes and prototyping of solid-state battery cells of 4?? generation (Li/NMC high-nickel) and 5?? generation (Li/Sulfur).
The work will focus on electrode shaping and assembly of solid-state cells, using processes such as coating, extrusion, and alternative approaches including 3D printing. These processes will be optimized to produce prototype cells (button cells and pouch format) with capacities up to 1 Ah, incorporating optimized interfaces. The cells will then be electrochemically tested to evaluate performance in terms of specific capacity, coulombic efficiency, and cycling stability.
Most experimental work will be conducted in controlled environments (gloveboxes), with regular characterization of both electrodes and assembled cells. Main responsibilities will include:
- Contributing to the definition of test plans based on internal data and literature,
- Developing and optimizing manufacturing processes for electrodes and solid-state cells,
- Producing and testing Gen4b and Gen5 prototype cells,
- Evaluating electrochemical performance and analyzing results,
- Presenting results clearly and concisely,
- Proposing improvements, ensuring smooth laboratory operations, and adhering to safety and quality standards,
- Disseminating research through publications, scientific presentations,
Global Power System Modeling under Planetary and Social Boundaries
The EQUALS project (EQUitable Allocation of Low-carbon Electricity Sources in a Changing and Resource-limited World) addresses the challenge of transitioning from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy under the constraint of planetary and social boundaries. While the rapid electrification of end-uses is a major lever against climate change, the transition faces limited natural resources, carbon budgets, and territorial specificities. EQUALS assesses the feasibility of meeting global energy needs within these limits, treating energy as a common.
Based at CEA Liten in Grenoble, this 18-month postdoctoral position establishes the project’s methodological foundations. The mission focuses on the generation of country-level hourly electricity demand time-series. This work involves reconstructing demand profiles that integrate thermal sensitivity (heating and cooling), socioeconomic development trajectories, and the electrification of end-uses. In parallel, vRES (variable Renewable Energy Sources) generation profiles will be developed to quantify resource availability worldwide.
These data will feed a global optimization model to identify transition pathways that minimize reliance on fossil fuels, while respecting social floors and planetary ceilings. The candidate will join the interdisciplinary EQUALS team, collaborating with a network of experts in modeling, energy geography, industrial ecology, and climate science. This position offers a stimulating research environment within the Grenoble scientific ecosystem, bridging technical engineering with sustainability science.
Development of an innovative instrumentation architecture using an array of magneto-resistive sensors to create a fast tomography system for fuel cells
Developing an innovative instrumentation architecture using an array of magneto-resistive sensors to create a rapid tomography system for fuel cells.
The goal is to develop a TRL 4 demonstrator in the laboratory to demonstrate a proof of
concept on a low-temperature fuel cell stack. This will include four measurement boards
with several dozen of synchronized magnetic sensors for simultaneous acquisitions. Experimental results and a description of the instrumentation system will be published. Historical data will be used to validate current density resolution algorithms and compare their performance to solutions based on Physics Informed Neural Network. Estimated current density results will be used for an additional publication.
The instrumentation system will be integrated into a CEA test bench dedicated to optimal control, transient observation, fault detection and exploration of defect propagation phenomena. This approach will offer dynamic and non-invasive observation of current distribution in the fuel cell, thereby improving the understanding of its operation and facilitating the optimization of its performance and lifespan.
Study of a low-cost K-ion storage system: electrolyte, safety and prototyping
The UPBEAT project (France 2030) aims to develop a low-cost potassium-ion technology that is free of critical materials and capable of providing the performance of LiFePO4-type Li-ion cells. The work proposed to the post-doc is in line with this objective: it will involve developing optimised organic liquid electrolytes for this new system (Prussian White vs. Graphite), by studying the most promising salts, solvents and additives, while maintaining the objectives of cost and durability. The proposed solutions (with and without fluorine) will be formulated, characterised and electrochemically tested in complete cells (coin cells and pouch cells including components optimisations) to measure their effectiveness in terms of lifetime and power response. Operando measurements and post-mortem characterisations will be used to understand the effects of the various components. The systems that best meet the project's requirements will also be subjected to abuse tests to assess the safety of the final system.
Development of new Potassium-ion cells with high performances and low environmental impact
Lithium ion batteries are considered as the reference system in terms of energy density and cycle life and will play a key role in the energetic transition, especially concerning electric vehicles. However, such a technology involves the use of a large amount of critical elements and active materials are synthesised using energy intensive processes.
In this way, our team is developing a new Potassium-ion batteries technology with high performances but with a low environmental impact.
For this innovative and ambitious project, CEA-LITEN (one of the most important research institute in Europe) is looking for a talented post-doctoral researcher in material chemistry. The post-doctoral position is opened for a young researcher with a high scientific level, interested by valorising her/his results through different patents and/or scientific publications.
Postdoc in Multi-instrumented operando monitoring of Li-ion battery for ageing
Nowadays, the development of new battery technology requires increasing the knowledge of degradation mechanisms occur inside the cell and monitor the key parameter in real time during cycling to increase the performances, lifetime and safety of the cells. To achieve these goals development of new sensing technology and integration inside and outside the cell is needed. The goal of the SENSIGA project is used advanced sensing technology to improve the monitoring of the cell by acquiring useful data correlate to the degradation process and develop more efficient battery management system with accurate state estimators. SENSIGA is a part of PEPR Batteries lead by CNRS and CEA and funding by the French Research Programme FRANCE 2030 to accelerate the development of new battery technology.
You will have the opportunity to work in a stimulating scientific environment focusing on the characterisation of both state of the art and latest generations of battery materials. Based on the sensing technology developed at CEA and from the state of the art, the SENSIGA project will reach the objective of the BATTERY2030+ roadmap goals for smart cells (https://battery2030.eu/research/roadmap/). One of the objectives of the project is to use external sensors to monitor the key parameters of the cell related to performances, ageing and safety behaviours.
HPC simulations for PEM fuel cells
The goal is to improve TRUST-FC software -a joint development between LITEN and DES institutes at CEA- for detailed full 3D simulation of hydrogene PEM fuel cells and to run simulations on whole real bipolar plate geometries. Funded by AIDAS virtual lab (CEA/Forshungs Zentrum Juelich), a fully coupled electro-chemical, fluidic and thermal model has been built, based on CEA software TRUST. The model has been benchmarked against its FZJ counterpart (Open fuelcell, based on OpenFoam). The candidate will adapt the software and toolchain to larger and larger meshes up to billion cells meshes required to model a full bipolar plate. Besides, he will introduce two phase flow models in order to address the current technological challenges (local flooding or dryout). This ambitious project is actively supported by close collaboration with CEA/DES and FZJ.
Optical sensor development for in-situ and operando Li-ion battery monitoring
To improve the battery management system, it is required to have a better knowledge of the physical and chemical phenomena inside the cells. The next generation of cells will integrate sensors for deepest monitoring of the cell to improve the performances, safety, reliability and lifetime of the battery packs. The main challenge is thus to measure relevant physico-chemical parameters in the heart of the cell to get a direct access to the real state of the cell and thus to optimize its management. To address this challenge, a research project will start at CEA at the beginning of 2020 to develop innovative optical sensors for Li-ion battery monitoring. He / She will participate, in a first step, to the development of optical probes and their integration on optical fibres. The work will focus on the synthesis of a photo-chemical probe (nanoparticle and/or molecule) as active part of the sensor. Then, theses probes will be put on the optical fibre surface to form the sensor. The candidate will also participate to the realization of an optical bench dedicated to the testing of the sensors. In a second step, he / she will work on integrating the sensors into the Li-ion cells and test them in different conditions. The objective is to demonstrate the proof of concept: validation of the sensors efficiency to capture the behaviour of the cell and correlate it to electrochemical measurements.
Simulation of PEMFC flooding phenomena
The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is now considered as a relevant solution for carbon-free electrical energy production, for both transport and stationary applications. The management of the fluids inside these cells has a significant impact on their performance and their durability. Flooding phenomena due to the accumulation of liquid water are known to impact the operation of the cells, causing performance drops and also damages that can be irreversible. With the use of thinner channels in ever more compact stacks, these phenomena are becoming more and more frequent. The objective of this post-doc is to progress in the understanding of flooding in PEMFCs. The work will consist in analyzing the link between the operating conditions, the design of the channels and the materials used in the cell. It will be based on a two-phase flow modeling approach at different scales, from the local scale at the channel-rib level, up to, via an upscaling approach, the level of the complete cell. The study will also be based on numerous experimental results obtained at the CEA or in the literature.
Electrochemical device for purifying hydrogen in a reformed gas
This project aims to establish a new research and development on purification devices for fuel reformers for hydrogen fuel cells. This work is of prime importance for fuel cell systems fed by different sources of hydrogen. Used in "power full" or "range extender" modes, the reformer and gas purification system are elements of the chain that have to be optimized.
Objective is to develop an electrochemical device for purifying the gas from a reformer whose basic principle is similar to that of a PEM electrolyzer. The gases from the reformer undergo a selective electrocatalytic oxidation to separate hydrogen and conventional pollutants directly power a fuel cell.
The project will focus on selection and characterization of catalysts electrocatalytic performance and the achievement of functional prototypes. These developments will assess the economic relevance of the device vis-à-vis other systems and identify areas of research to develop thereafter.