CO2 Conversion on Metal Oxides – Two PhD positions (Austria) (# of pos: 2)

Overview. Ferroelectric materials can enhance charge separation due to spontaneous polarization effects, which are well-suited for photocatalytic applications. This proposal will investigate the influence of graded metal oxide transitions between a ferroelectric BaTiO3 and a paraelectric TiO2 phase, and explore the influence of compositionally graded interfaces. Expected size effects on structure, strain and ferroelectric properties will be addressed with microscopy, diffraction and spectroscopic techniques. Two materials systems will be studied: (i) nanoparticle powders with high specific surface areas tunable densities and (ii) layered nanohole films with tunable porosity, composition, doping and supported on planar substrates. Complementary test assays will be used to establish figures of merit for the materials’ photoactivities, including electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in conjunction with O2 or CO2 adsorption, providing site-specific information about paramagnetic defects and photogenerated surface radicals; CO2 photoreduction using FT-IR, mass spectroscopy and EPR. This proposal involves the groups of G. Bourret, expert in sputtering, nanostructuring and optical materials, and O. Diwald, expert in photoexcitation studies, photocatalysis and in-situ spectroscopy. With this integrated approach we will provide an unprecedented coherent description of the photo-generation, separation and chemical utilization of charge carriers in composite nanostructured metal oxides in the context of CO2 conversion.

Location. Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials, University of Salzburg, Austria

Your profile: MSc. in Chemical Engineering (preferred), Chemistry (preferred), Physics or Materials Science. Experience with metal oxides, heterogeneous catalysis is a strong plus.

Application package. Please email the following to oliver.diwald@plus.ac.at : most recent CV, motivation letter, contact details of two senior persons who have worked with you.

Salary. Annual gross salary: €40860. Start date. December 1st 2022 or later.

More information on the research groups here:

Oliver Diwald: https://www.plus.ac.at/chemie-und-physik-der-materialien/staff-2/a-bis-d/diwald/

Gilles Bourret: https://sites.google.com/view/gillesbourret-nanomaterials/