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Solid-state redox catalysts for electrochemical PFAS abatement
PhD - Leuven | Just now
Developing new methods and materials to secure a clean water supply.
Activity and selectivity are the terms most commonly associated with catalysis. However, the latter also implies passivity towards every reaction that should not happen. In electrochemistry this becomes paramount when we hit the limits of the solvent in which reactions are performed. A clear example of this is the oxidative abatement of pollutants in water, where pollutants such as PFAS are often highly stable and present at very low concentrations. This means thermodynamics will favor the breakdown of water over the pollutants, resulting in low energy efficiency. In this situation the passivity of the anode towards oxygen evolution becomes key. Currently, boron doped diamond (BDD) is most studied for this application because of its very high overpotential for water oxidation. However, it is expensive and not easily deposited on nanostructured electrodes, limiting its application.
In this PhD project you will explore the use of solid-state redox catalysts as high-voltage anodes in aqueous solutions, to replace BDD. First you will identify promising materials in for example the spinel family and develop methods to prepare thin films that are compatible with nanostructured substrates. You will investigate the electrochemical properties of these films, as well as their activity and stability in abatement experiments, and work towards optimal long-term performance. Finally, the application of your materials in abatement on nanostructured electrodes will be demonstrated.
Required background: MSc in chemistry, materials science, or physics, electrochemistry
Type of work: 40% materials development, 40% characterization, 20% literature review
Supervisor: Philippe Vereecken (KU Leuven)
Daily advisor: Patrick Steegstra, Jerome Beaudelot
The reference code for this position is 2027-143. Mention this reference code in your application.