PhD Position: Nitrogen Valorization in High-Temp Electrochemical Cells (F/M/X)

Sustainable ammonia production is an important challenge in the transition towards a climate-neutral chemical industry. Conventional ammonia synthesis is highly energy intensive and relies predominantly on fossil-derived hydrogen. Electrochemical routes offer the possibility to produce ammonia using renewable electricity while enabling new, decentralized production concepts.

This PhD project will focus on the development of advanced materials, electrodes, and membrane-electrode assemblies for high-temperature electrochemical ammonia synthesis using solid oxide and protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (SOC and PCC technologies). The research will address the electrochemical conversion of nitrogen- and NOx-containing streams towards NH3.

The project will combine catalyst and electrode development with ceramic-cell fabrication, electrochemical testing, product analysis, and advanced materials characterization. Different catalyst integration strategies, including infiltration and exsolution, will be investigated to improve activity, selectivity, and long-term stability. Particular attention will be given to electrode–electrolyte interfaces, reaction mechanisms, and degradation under realistic operating conditions.

This PhD position is part of HyNITROGEN (https://groenvermogennl.org/en/nieuws/e20-3-million-for-hynitrogen-consortium-research-into-sustainable-nitrogen-chemistry) a large national research program within GroenvermogenNL that brings together more than 40 academic and industrial partners to develop sustainable production routes for ammonia and other nitrogen-based chemicals using renewable hydrogen and green electricity.