Master Thesis - Advanced electrolytes for sodium-based battery applications

Batteries move us and our world - they start our cars, keep the hands of our watches running and ensure that we can take pictures with our smartphones everywhere. At the Helmholtz Institute Münster Ion Conductors for Energy Storage (IMD-4 / HI MS), we are researching novel electrolyte formulations for new and advanced battery concepts. focuses on electrolyte research and development as a key area for future battery concepts. Major research activities comprise the design, synthesis, characterization and processing of more sophisticated battery electrolytes and chemistries. We are located at the Münster branch of the Jülich Research Centre and are operated in close cooperation with the University of Münster and the RWTH Aachen University. This enables us to pool our expertise in battery research and substantially advance this important future field of electrolyte research.

Your Job:

Join the SIB:DE FORSCHUNG (Sodium-Ion-Battery Germany Research) project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and actively contribute to the development of liquid electrolytes for sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) as a strategic alternative to lithium-ion technology, supporting the European energy and mobility transition.

Responsibilities:

• Identification of novel electrolyte components (conductive salts, solvents/co solvents and functional additives) and their optimal compositions for the development of advanced non aqueous aprotic sodium-based battery electrolytes
• Physicochemical, electrochemical and analytical characterization of various liquid electrolyte classes by selected complementary methods on electrolyte and lab cell level
• Investigation of the influence of the electrolyte on the overall cell performance under varying conditions
• Documenting and visualizing the achieved results in presentations

Profile:

• You are enrolled in a master`s programme in chemistry, physics, materials science or a comparable field of study and are currently planning to write your master`s thesis.
• Good prior knowledge of electrochemistry is required to successfully write this thesis.
• Interest in the field of battery development research.
• Very good written and spoken English; good written and spoken German desirable.
• Willingness to learn various electrochemical methods.
• High degree of independence, motivation and reliability.

Our Offer:

• Your thesis deals with a future-oriented, socially relevant topic with direct practical relevance in an international environment
• Qualified supervision by scientific colleagues
• Independent preparation and execution of the assigned tasks
• Ideal conditions for practical experience alongside your studies
• Interdisciplinary collaboration on projects in an international, committed and collegial team
• Excellent scientific equipment and the latest technology
• Outstanding scientific development opportunities at the Helmholtz-Institute Münster as well as cooperation opportunities with our other research locations in Aachen and Jülich
• The position is limited to 7 months and is appropriately remunerated. Following completion of the master`s thesis, there is the possibility of directly continuing with a doctoral thesis if interested.

Place of employment: Münster

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.

Further information on diversity and equal opportunities:

We look forward to receiving your application. The job will be advertised until the position has been successfully filled. You should therefore submit your application as soon as possible.