Optimization of Li metal/electrolyte for the next generation of all-solid-state battery
CEA Tech Nouvelle-Aquitaine, created in 2013, set up a new laboratory, since more than two years, focused on both the development of materials and the high throughput screening to accelerate the discovery of materials for the next generations of Li-ion batteries. For that, the CEA Tech Nouvelle-Aquitaine acquires different vacuum deposition equipment (sputtering, evaporation, atomic layer deposition) integrated in glovebox and different automated characterization techniques (SEM-EDX, profilometer, XRD, LIBS and confocal microscope later).
The Li metal/electrolyte interface constitutes one of the main challenges to overcome for the next generation of all-solid-state battery. The reactions of decompositions at the interface associated to uneven plating/stripping of Li ions lead to quick cell failure. One of the avenue for stabilizing it is to use a protective layer, which must feature numerous physical-chemical properties. In this context, this internal CEA project aims at setting up a combinatorial synthesis methodology associated to high throughput characterizations in order to accelerate the discovery of new protective layers at the Li metal/electrolyte interface.
We are seeking for an outstanding applicant who will be in charge of setting up the whole methodology, from the synthesis to the physical-chemical-electrochemical characterizations of the materials. She/he will have at her disposal a new state-of-the-art infrastructures. She/he will collaborate with other CEA labs located at LITEN (Grenoble, France).
Development of new processes for the fabrication of advanced interconnect structures of solar cells
The fabrication of solar cells with high performances at a reduced cost is a key challenge addressed by many research institutions and industrials worldwide. Many technological solutions are being investigated. Among them, a promising approach consists in forming narrower metal lines to limit shadowing of active areas of the cells. This work aims at replacing serigraphy by new fabrication processes able to reduce line width. For this purpose, the conducting substrate is coated by an insulating mask in which the lines are defined. The metal is then directly plated selectively onto the weakly conducting portions of the substrate, i.e. the lines, using electrolytic reactions. The process conditions will be adapted with regard to the nature of the initial conducting surfaces.
New Sustainable Carbon Catalysts for PEMFC
The aim of the project is to develop and test for ORR, a mesoporous and graphitised graphene aerogel based material, presenting a hierarchical structuring allowing a better material transfer and graphitic domains increasing the durability and conductivity of the final material, and functionalised by Pt-NPs.
These graphene-based structures developed at IRIG/SyMMES possess surface chemistries and micro/meso/macro porosities that depend on the synthesis, functionalisation and drying methods used. The aim will be to increase their degree of graphitisation, and then to deposit Pt-NPs by chemical means. The electrocatalytic properties of these materials will then be tested.
Advanced meso-structural characterisation of these materials by scattering (X-ray or neutrons) methods will enable to investigate the structural properties of these new electro-catalysts. These properties will thenbe correlated to their electrocatalytic properties, and performances in fuel cell systems. This knowledge will be gained through ex-situ and operando analyses.
Thermodynamic Modelling of Complex Oxides for Smart Sensors
The search for more efficient materials follows a pattern that has changed very little over the years, involving poorly automated phases of synthesis, characterization and measurement of functional properties. Although this pattern has proved its strength in creating knowledge bases, it remains ineffective because it is time-consuming and generally covers a reduced range of compositions. The project Hiway-2-mat (https://www.pepr-diadem.fr/projet/hiway-2-mat/) seeks to use high-throughput combinatorial approaches and develop autonomous configurations to explore the compositional spaces of complex oxide materials, with the aim of accelerating the discovery of materials for smart sensors. In this context, CALPHAD method is a valuable tool for materials exploration, as it can provide a number of useful insights into the role of oxidation state or oxygen partial pressure on phase stability, and on the degree of substitution of doping elements in an oxide matrix. The aim is to calculate phase diagrams of complex oxides based on available databases, either to better prepare combinatorial experiments, or to drive the autonomous robot on the fly, providing additional information for on-line characterization.
Your role will be to:
1)Perform thermodynamic simulations using CALPHAD method and Thermo-Calc Software to predict the stability range of a set of complex oxides (Ba/Ca/Sr)(Ti/Zr/Sn/Hf)O3 at different temperatures and oxygen partial pressures. In this step, the candidate will also perform a critical review of the thermodynamic data available in the literature.
2)Include key elements in the available database.
3)Develop a rapid screening method to search for the most promising compositions.
The candidate will work closely with the experimental platform development team to guide future trials and adapt the method to better meet the needs of large-scale production.