The Cluster research group of the Quantum Solid-state Physics (QSP) research unit at KU Leuven is seeking a motivated postdoctoral fellow for our project “Design of plasmonic photocatalysts for CO2 conversion based on multi-metallic clusters”, recently funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). This project is carried out in a consortium comprising three partners, bringing together two groups with unique experimental expertise in cluster-based model catalyst development and their operando characterization (KU Leuven-QSP) and in photocatalytic testing and process development of photo-electro-catalysts for environmental and energy applications (University of Antwerp -Sustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL)), and a third group with a strong expertise in DFT calculations of nanoalloys (University of Milan, Physics department).
QSP is a research unit of the Department of Physics and Astronomy of KU Leuven, specialized in experimental research of functional properties of solid-state systems. It consists of eight full time and two part time members of academic staff and more than fifty doctoral students, post-doctoral researchers and visiting professors, operating a wide range of in-house facilities dedicated to thin film with extensive in situ characterization capabilities, ion implantation and ion beam analysis, cluster production, mass spectrometry and spectroscopy, transport measurements, scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy. A large part of the research is also conducted at international large-scale facilities, such as the ISOLDE facility at CERN, synchrotron facilities (ESRF), free-electron lasers and neutron sources.
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Responsibilities
The main goal of this project is the development of efficient photocatalysts for the durable electrochemical conversion of CO2 into high-value chemicals using solar light as energy source. To achieve this goal, we aim at developing novel model plasmonic catalysts containing bi- or multi-metallic clusters that are made in the gas and deposited in titania nanotubes. The catalysts will be characterized ex situ by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and under operating conditions by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy and high-resolution Raman and DRIFTS to unravel charge transfer mechanisms, active sites and intermediate molecules in the reaction pathway. Finite element theoretical modeling and density functional theory (DFT) calculations will be used to increase the understanding of the photoreduction mechanism, contributing to the design a novel generation of CO2 photoreduction catalysts.
The candidate will use a laser-ablation cluster-beam deposition instrument to deposit in vacuum size-selected mono- and multi-metallic nanoclusters/ nanoparticles on titania nanotubes and TEM grids. He/she will perform the XPS characterization and operate the state-of-the-art probe-lens aberration corrected STEM (Jeol - ARM200F) housed in the Leuven Nanocenter to characterize ex situ the structure and atomic arrangement of selected bi- and multi-metallic clusters deposited directly on TEM grids. He/she will participate in the beam time proposals writing, prepare the in situ /operando XAFS measurements using in-house cells at Soleil (Paris-Saclay), the Swiss Light Source (SLS) at PSI and at the European Synchrotron (ESRF), take part in the beam times and the results analysis. He/she may also contribute to the DFT calculations, in collaboration with the University of Milan. The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of researchers within the project consortium.
Profile
Candidates should have (or be about to obtain) a PhD degree in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Nanotechnology or a closely related subject, be enthusiastic about experimental research, and ideally have a background in one or more of the following fields: nanoscale physics, material science, physical chemistry or catalytic chemistry. Experience with gas aggregation cluster sources, cluster deposition, physical vapor deposition, and vacuum instruments and/or being trained in one or several of characterization techniques (SEM, XPS, TEM and/or XAFS), is an asset. Good command of English is required.
Offer
We offer a postdoctoral position initially for one year, which can be extended for two additional years. You will receive a competitive salary/scholarship and will be able to join a dynamic team of scientists. You will principally work in Leuven, a historic, dynamic and multicultural city located in the heart of Europe but also visit our partners in Antwerp and Milan and participate in XAFS measurements at different synchrotrons facilities.
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Ewald Janssens, tel.: +32 16 32 72 07, mail: [email protected] or Prof. dr. Peter Lievens, tel.: +32 16 32 84 98, mail: [email protected].
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