Development of long-life catalysts for PEM fuel cells

Context and goal
Within the framework of a project funded by the National Funds for Scientific Research (FNRS),
the University of Liège and the UCLouvain University recruit two PhD candidates to develop
electrocatalysts for low temperature fuel cell applications. The research will deal with (i) the
synthesis of corrosion-resistant supports and (ii) the use of protective barriers to avoid the
coarsening/leaching of metallic nanoparticles upon use in fuel cell, while keeping excellent catalytic
activity. To that aim, several strategies will be compared, including surface functionalization and
layer depositions using wet chemistry techniques. The research will include both material design/
synthesis, and characterization in real fuel cell environment – which requires electrode design.
 

Role of the PhD students
The two PhD students will work together in a joint project to reach the same objective: developing
PEM fuel cell electrocatalysts with increased lifetime. Carbon-type supports will be optimized by
both graphitization and functionalization techniques already in use in both laboratories. Metal
deposition methods will be adapted to the new supports, and the protection of the active phase by
porous barriers will be studied. All those tasks will rely on the expertise and infrastructure of the
two research groups. Support functionalization and active phase protection will mostly be studied
at the MOST laboratory (UCLouvain). Graphitization and electrochemical characterization in fuel
cell will be performed at ULiège. Both laboratories will strongly contribute to physico-chemical
characterization of the catalysts and structure/activity correlations. The first PhD student will mainly
unravel the variables responsible for materials optimization, while the second will correlate
materials features to their fuel cell performance. Both students will be enrolled in a joint PhD
program between ULiège and UCLouvain with the aim of completing a thesis within 4 years.

One researcher will be hired by ULiège, and the second one will be hired by
UCLouvain. The work will take place at the Department of Chemical Engineering – NCE
(Nanomaterials, Catalysis, Electrochemistry) laboratory of ULiège, and at the MOST
(Molecular Chemistry, Materials and Catalysis) laboratory in UCLouvain. Both researchers
are expected to meet frequently either in ULiège or UCLouvain.

Chemical Engineering aims at designing processes for the transformation of raw materials, chemical products, living cells, microorganisms or energy into useful form and products, with constant attention to optimal use and sustainable use of resources while minimizing environmental impact.

This type of research and development activity is based on a variety of skills: process engineering, physical unit operations, reaction and (bio)reactor design, catalysis, materials science, numerical methods, fluid mechanics, physical chemistry, etc. They require combining the use of experiments and modeling.

In this way, 'Chemical Engineering' is characterized by an integrated methodological approach based on knowledge allowing the development of processes, materials and devices in many fields of application: energy, environment, health, resources, space. The common feature of these applications is the mastery of the kinetics of the phenomena of transfer, transport, and reactions on multiple scales (from nano to macroscopic), without ignoring the coupling between these phenomena, which contribute to their complexity. At the same time the interactions with the environment have to be accounted for including waste management. All the members of the department apply this integrated methodological approach in their respective fields of expertise.

Master in Sciences (Chemistry or physics) or Master in Engineering (preferably
specialized in Chemistry and Materials Sciences)

Good level of English is requested