Postdoc position on redox-targeted flow batteries — Empa
- Location
- Dübendorf
- Contract
- Full-time
- Posted
- 56 days ago
Full description
Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.
Postdoc position on redox-targeted flow batteries
Empa’s Laboratory Materials for Energy Conversion focuses on materials and device innovation for sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies.
The research project focuses on the development of solid electrode composites, so-called boosters, for next-generation redox-targeted flow batteries. In these systems, soluble redox mediators dissolved in the electrolyte exchange charge with solid booster materials held in the storage tanks, decoupling energy density from active-material solubility while preserving the modularity and safety of aqueous flow batteries. The performance of such batteries hinges on the solid booster formulation, morphology, and the efficiency of charge transfer between mediator and solid under continuous flow.
Your tasks
Your task is to develop solid booster formulations with PFAS-free binders, in line with the sustainability goals of the project. You will explore compositions and pellet morphologies to optimize mass transport and reactivity with the mediator solution while maintaining mechanical stability, and characterize the thermal and chemical stability of components and formulations. You will apply in-situ diagnostics, in particular in-flow UV-Vis, to quantify mediator-booster reactivity and component dissolution during operation, developing a firm understanding of how material formulation and experimental parameters govern charge transfer at the liquid-solid interface. To connect materials to devices, you will prototype booster-bed reactors from mL to L scale by 3D printing and support the transfer of promising formulations toward scalable, solvent-free processing. Material combinations will be validated in lab-scale flow batteries, benefiting from the characterization capabilities available at Empa.
The position is embedded in the Horizon Europe project FLOWBOOST, an international consortium advancing the technology from the laboratory toward a kW-scale prototype, offering close collaboration with academic and industrial partners across Europe.
Your profile
We are looking for a self-motivated team player ready to work independently in Empa's vibrant international research environment. The ideal candidate holds a PhD in materials science, chemistry, or related fields, with a strong publication record. Prior experience in flow-cell electrochemistry, in-situ spectroscopy (UV-Vis, Raman, FTIR), or 3D printing and polymer processing is desired. Good spoken and written English is required, and basic German is an advantage.
Our offer
Our labs are fully equipped for battery fabrication and characterization. State-of-the-art facilities include synthesis labs with fume hoods, gloveboxes, various synthesis reactors and furnaces, several lab-scale flow battery test stands, 3D printers for rapid reactor prototyping, and equipment for electrode and composite fabrication. Analytical facilities include X-ray diffractometers, UV-Vis (including in-flow configurations), Raman and FTIR spectrometers, surface area and particle size analyzers, electrochemical characterization including impedance spectroscopy, mass spectrometers, gas and liquid chromatographers, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis (ICP-OES), and a broad suite of tools for the physicochemical characterization of components. Access to advanced electron microscopy and X-ray facilities is also available.
We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities - that's what counts.
We look forward to receiving your complete online application including your CV, scholar records and certificates, a full publication list, a one-page motivation letter specifying how you intend to contribute to this specific topic, and at least two reference letters. Only complete applications will be considered. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal. Applications by e-mail and by post will not be considered.
Questions about this listing
What salary does Empa offer for this role?
The original listing does not state a salary. Our estimate for this role and sector in Dübendorf is CHF 73'500 - 111'500 gross per year — an estimate, not a figure communicated by Empa. The calculator on this site converts a gross salary into your actual net take-home once cross-border tax and social contributions are applied.
Is this a full-time role, and what type of contract does Empa offer?
This listing is a full-time position. The contract type shown here comes directly from the employer's original posting; always confirm exact hours, notice period and probation length with Empa during the application process, since these details can vary by role even within the same contract category.
Do I need a cross-border work permit for a role in Zürich?
EU/EFTA residents living in the border zone of the country adjoining Canton Zürich can apply for a G permit; the Swiss employer files it with that canton's migration office after the contract is signed. Border-zone rules and processing times vary by neighbouring country and canton, so confirm the specifics with Zürich's cantonal migration office or with HR during the application.
How do I apply for this position at Empa?
Use the "Apply now" button on this page — it links directly to Empa's original listing at apply.refline.ch, so your application goes straight to the employer's own applicant-tracking system. Frontaliere Ticino does not collect or forward applications itself.
