Thèse/PhD - Investigation of PVDF latex binders / electrodes for lithium ion ba

CHEMISTRY + TALENTS + PERFORMANCE

Discover Arkema

Targeted company

A designer of materials and innovative solutions, Arkema shapes materials and creates new uses that accelerate customer performance in lightweight and design materials, biosourced materials, new energies, water management, solutions for electronics, and the performance and home insulation.

A global manufacturer in specialty chemicals and advanced materials, with 3 business segments – High Performance Materials, Industrial Specialties, and Coating Solutions – and globally recognized brands, the Group reports annual sales of 8.8 billion euros. Buoyed by the collective energy of its 20,000 employees, Arkema operates in close to 55 countries.

Go beyond your discoveries!

Reference number

2019-10063

Join us!

Job category

Research & Development - Research

Contract

PhD Contract

Duration of the contract

Limited to 3 years

Your skills

You have a university degree (Diploma (Uni) / Master) in materials science, chemistry or process engineering. Experience in the field of electrochemistry is desirable, additional knowledge in the field of processing of ceramic materials of advantage.

Your responsibilities

The public acceptance of electromobility is still limited due the high costs and the unfavorable carbon footprint of the production process for lithium ion batteries. One reason for this is the application of organic solvents at the manufacturing of electrodes, which make cost-intensive measures for worker protection, explosion prevention or emission control indispensable. Replacing the organic solvent-based with a water-based process would be a large step to a more sustainable and cost-reduced manufacturing process. However, the substitution of the organic solvent by water is challenging, since water interferes with many materials and levels of the production chain in a different way. One necessary adjustment concerns the binders used, since the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder established in the organic environment is not water-soluble. However, in the form of a latex dispersion, the material appreciated for its excellent chemical, thermal and electrochemical stability can be applied to an aqueous environment.

The goal of the thesis is to gain a fundamental understanding of the effects of using aqueous PVDF latex binders for the production of lithium ion batteries. This includes the investigation of slurry properties, the impact on electrode manufacturing and cell performance. Special emphasis should be given on the identification and controlling of the interactions of water and binder with the various electrode components. Further tasks comprise the characterization of the electrode structure and the determination of the aging behavior.

We offer you the opportunity to complete the promotion within three years. During this time, you will work in an interdisciplinary working group and you will have access to the excellent research infrastructure and experimental facilities at KIT. The work will be performed in cooperation with Arkema, a French global chemistry company among worldwide leader for high-performance materials, including for batteries, giving you good insights into the industrial aspects of electrode production too.

mehr...

zur Vakanz

Weitere Jobs von Profils