DTU - Technical University of Denmark
PhD scholarship in advanced characterization of high temperature proton conducting electrochemical cells - DTU Energy
🇩🇰Kongens Lyngby, Capital Region, Denmark4 days ago
Full TimeEN
The Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), invites applications for a PhD scholarship in the advanced characterization of high temperature proton conducting electrochemical cells and stacks.
The activities are aimed at identifying the mechanisms that limit the performance and lifetime of cells and stacks via advanced electrochemical and microstructural characterisation and explore strategies for enhancing performance and durability.
Transforming our society to rely only on sustainable energy sources is a formidable engineering challenge. Key to success will be the development of cost competitive and reliable methods to produce hydrogen via electrolysis of water/steam driven by green electricity.
Hydrogen can be used as a fuel in itself or serve as a reactant to produce fuels like methanol, kerosene or even ammonia. Large scale deployment of such electrolysis units is highly needed to enable displacement of fossil fuels. Steam electrolysis can be realized with cells constructed from proton conducting oxides. Such cells can be used, not only as an electrolyser or fuel cells, but can also work as electrochemical pumps for hydrogen separation and hence holds merit in terms of multi-functionality. Compared with solid oxide cells using oxygen ion conductors, proton conducting cells are less mature. Understanding the key factors that affect the performance of these cells and under various operation conditions is highly desired for further progressing the technology.
Responsibilities and qualifications
You will work on electrochemical and microstructural characterisation of proton conducting cells and stacks. Electrochemical characteristic techniques such as impedance spectroscopy and tracking of IV-characteristics will be applied.
Tests will be conducted in different operation modes such as fuel cell-, electrolyser- or hydrogen separation-mode or even involving an additional down-stream synthesis step to ammonia. The methodologies must be further developed to analyse the off-gasses of the experiment and for cyclic operation.
Key tasks will be
You will work in a team of colleagues working on electrochemical characterization and also in project-groups with colleagues specialised in component manufacture.
As part of the PhD education, you will follow courses and assist in teaching activities, and:
Candidates must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.
We favour candidates with a degree in materials science, solid state chemistry, electronic engineering or similar. Experience with one or more of the following areas is an advantage.
Moreover, the successful candidate
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
Your application will be assessed by Professor Peter Vang Hendriksen and associate Professor Xiufu Sun.
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.
The workplace is DTU Lyngby Campus.
The employment is expected to start 1 August 2026, or according to mutual agreement.
You can read more about career paths at DTU here.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from associate Professor Xiufu Sun (xisu@dtu.dk). Please do not send applications to this e-mail address, instead apply online as described below.
You can read more about DTU Energy at 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 8 June 2026 (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:
You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.
The Department of Energy Conversion and Storage (DTU Energy) focuses on research and development of functional materials, components, and systems for sustainable energy technologies. The technologies include fuel cells, electrolysis, power-to-x, batteries, and carbon capture. The research is based on strong competences on electrochemistry, atomic scale and multi-physics modelling, autonomous materials discovery, materials processing, and structural analyses. We also focus on educating engineering students at all levels, ranging from BSc, MSc, PhD to lifelong learning students. We have about 300 dedicated employees. Read more about us at www.energy.dtu.dk.
DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, stimulating, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.
