Postdoc position on the local analysis of structure and reactivity of membrane-electrode assembly for PEM water electrolysers

Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer (PEMWE) is currently considered as a promising solution for hydrogen production from renewable energy sources. For economical interest and durable development, it is essential to study the mechanism of the degradation of PEMWE for predicting and improving its lifetime under practical operational conditions. One of the key factors affecting the durability of PEMWE is the heterogeneity, which arises from the materials as well as the operational conditions.

The ANR Multi-Hero project (Clarifying degradation causes in PEM water electrolyzers via multiscale Heterogeneity characterizations) aims to clarify the impact of multiscale heterogeneity on the degradation of a key PEMWE component, the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), by employing novel ex-situ and in-operando characterization tools across multiple scales. The measurements will be realized before cell assembly, during the accelerated degradation test, and post-mortem after the test. The multiscale analytical results from “birth” to “death” across the full PEMWE lifecycle will be implemented in data-driven models for understanding and predicting the degradation of PEMWE. The project is led by Prof. Zhongliang Li from FEMTO-ST (Belfort), who is expert on fuel cells and electrolyzers at cell and stack levels.

This postdoc work is targeting at microscale characterization of the structure, conductivity and catalytic reactivity of MEA that is used in PEMWE. The measurements will be carried out at “birth” and “death”, that is, before cell assembly and after accelerated degradation test. Spatially resolved information will be acquired by Raman scattering microspectroscopy, scanning (gel) electrochemical microscopy, SEM and EDX. Methodological development for studying the local electrocatalytic reactivity of MEA will be the focus. The postdoc will work with the project partner from Laboratoire de Chimie Physique et Microbiologie pour les Matériaux et l’Environnement (LCPME), led by Dr. Liang Liu, whose expertise is on studying electrochemistry at microscale.

The main activities include:

• Development of non-destructive methodology for measuring the local reactivity of the electrodes and the local conductivity of membranes, at micron to millimetre scales, preferably by scanning gel electrochemical microscopy.
• Quantitative analysis of the results by physics-based modelling.
• Physical characterizations of MEAs pre-assembly and post-mortem (Raman spectroscopy, SEM/EDX and other techniques if necessary).
• Collaboration with FEMTO-ST in terms of sample and data exchange. 

The candidate is also expected to attend to the work meetings of the project, write scientific publications and project reports, and supervise internship students.

The postdoctoral researcher will have an 18-month fixed-term contract with CNRS. The starting date is Sep. 1, 2026, but can be adapted to the situation of the candidate.

Requirement for candidate:

• PhD degree in chemistry, material science, energy or relevant domains.
• Strong background in analytical electrochemistry, with focus on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and related techniques.
• Experience in material characterizations (vibrational spectroscopy (IR, Raman), SEM/EDX).
• Excellent oral and writing in English. French is not mandatory.
• Self-motivated independent working in a collaborative environment.
• Knowledge of instrumentation and/or physics-based modelling are highly appreciated.

Application link:

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR7564-LIALIU-008/Default.aspx?lang=EN

Contact:

Liang Liu : [email protected]

Manuel Dossot : [email protected]