PhD Scholarship in Integrated Direct Air Capture and CO2 Utilization - DTU Energy

Join our team to advance pioneering CO2 capture and utilization technologies. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to sustainable solutions, enhancing environmental impact through cutting-edge research and development in carbon management.
If you are looking to advance your career in scientific research and seeking an opportunity that aligns with your ambitions in the field of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and utilization, this position is ideal for you. Joining our team at DTU Energy will enable you to engage in groundbreaking work at the forefront of sustainable technologies, where you can make meaningful contributions to environmental solutions while developing essential skills to propel your career forward.

In response to growing environmental concerns and the urgent need for decarbonization across all sectors of the economy, the demand for CO2 capture has surged over the past decade. Direct Air Capture (DAC) has emerged as a crucial carbon-negative technology capable of removing CO2 directly from the atmosphere, thereby helping to reduce its concentration. Our goal is to couple a DAC system with electrochemical conversion to directly convert the captured CO2 from air to value-added materials. This integrated approach aims to pioneer a CO2 capture and electrolysis process that reduces overall energy consumption.

You are highly motivated and passionate about sustainable technologies, with a background in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or related fields. As a Ph.D. student, you will focus on the materials and molecular design for DAC, followed by their application in electrochemical CO2 conversion. This research aims to explore pathways for direct capturing and utilizing CO2, transforming it into valuable products such as methanol, ethanol, and other C2+ compounds.

Responsibilities
Your main responsibility in this project will be to design and synthesize innovative materials for direct CO2 capture and conversion. The ultimate goal of your Ph.D. thesis is to establish an optimized process configuration that reduces energy consumption, cost, and environmental impact beyond what is achievable with current technologies. Your work will be experimental, involving diverse methodologies and potentially developing new techniques as required. This multidisciplinary project will include:

Developing New Materials: We will focus on the practical synthesis of advanced materials with integrated carbon capture and utilization (CCU) capabilities, utilizing H-cell, flow cell, and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) cell systems. The synthesis process will prioritize optimizing the physicochemical properties of these materials to enhance their stability and performance for CCU applications. We will use various prototype test facilities available at DTU Energy to assess the efficiency of the synthesized materials.

Understanding Fundamental Mechanisms: This project aims to bridge the gap between lab-scale experiments and industrial-scale processes. A deep understanding of each step within the reaction sequence is crucial for developing efficient CCU technologies that can be successfully scaled up. We will conduct comprehensive in-situ and ex-situ spectroscopic studies to investigate the underlying mechanisms governing the CCU processes. This includes, but is not limited to, employing state-of-the-art characterization techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). These tools will be essential for understanding reaction intermediates, material interactions, and morphological changes during CO2 capture, particularly in relation to the conversion to specific target products.

Required Qualifications

• A two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or equivalent, preferably in electrochemistry, organic chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment, demonstrating creativity and innovation.
• Experience in experimental catalysis synthesis and reactor engineering design would be an asset.
• Basic knowledge of Python, particularly for data analysis and automation, is desirable.
• Fluent in both spoken and written English, demonstrating strong communication skills.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education.

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Assistant Professor Maryam Abdinejad ([email protected]) and Head of Section Johan Hjelm ([email protected]).

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

It is a full-time position with a preferred starting date of April 1, 2025 (or as mutually agreed).

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Maryam Abdinejad ([email protected]) or Head of Section Johan Hjelm ([email protected]). For more information about DTU Energy see https://www.energy.dtu.dk/

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 31 January 2025 (23.59 Danish time).
Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A motivation letter (cover letter).
• Curriculum vitae (CV).
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English), including an official description of the grading scale.
• Proof of relevant skills and experience in the field.
• Contact information of two referees

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Energy
The Department of Energy Conversion and Storage is focused on education, research, and development within functional materials and their application in sustainable energy technologies. In a sustainable energy system a large part of the energy will be supplied by fluctuating sources such as solar and wind power. This makes it critically important to be able to convert and store the energy as needed. The researchers in the Department of Energy Conversion and Storage work on technologies and materials for direct conversion and subsequent storage of different forms of energy.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.

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