PhD Fellow in assistive technology and social innovation for older adults - OsloMet

Your main duties and areas of responsibility

Currently, liquid electrolyte-based batteries are the most used batteries in portable devices and electric vehicles. However, the liquid electrolytes used in these batteries, which are based on organic solvents, pose a significant safety risk due to their potential for leakage and combustion. Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are safer alternatives to liquid electrolytes, as they offer improved electrochemical stability and are non-flammable. SSEs also allow for the use of Li and Na metals as the anode, thus increasing the energy density of Li- and Na-ion batteries. Furthermore, SSEs can be stacked in multiple layers to enhance energy density further, making them promising candidates for the next generation of electrolyte materials to replace liquid electrolytes.

Developing a single material that meets all the requirements for a suitable SSE is challenging. On the one hand, achieving a non-toxic and stable SSE with high ionic conductivity requires the use of ceramic-based conductors. On the other hand, a material with low charge transfer resistance at the solid electrode-electrolyte interface needs a soft material such as a polymer-based electrolyte. Combining hard and soft materials (e.g., polymers and ceramics) into a single polymer nanocomposite solid electrolyte (PNSEs) can be a promising approach to address this material paradox. PNSEs can enable achieving desirable properties, including high ionic conductivity, low interface resistance, enhanced mechanical properties, and superior electrochemical stability.

Concerning the small-scale effects on the material behavior of PNSEs, only molecular simulations can provide a systematic method to understand the relationship between the structure and function of the complex systems and accelerate the development of more high-performing PNSEs. The ultimate goal of the project is to develop, implement, and validate novel deep-learning models for molecular dynamics and coarse-grained simulations for the characterization, design, virtual testing, and optimization of PNSEs for Li and Na-ion batteries.

As a PhD Fellow at OsloMet, you have the opportunity to apply for funding for extended research stays abroad.

Qualification requirements

• Master’s degree in applied mathematics, computational physics, or equivalent related disciplines. The degree must normally include 120 credits (ECTS). If the master’s degree includes fewer than 120 ECTS credits, the applicant must, by the application deadline, submit documentation confirming that the master’s degree qualifies for admission to doctoral studies in the country where it was awarded. All exams for the master's degree must be completed by 30 June 2026.
• An academic profile aligned with the needs of the research group and the department.
• For appointment to the position, the following grade requirements normally apply:
  • Minimum average grade B on subjects included in the master's degree.
  • Minimum grade B on the master's thesis.
  • Minimum average grade C on the subjects included in the bachelor's degree. If you have an integrated master's degree, the grades from the first three standard years of the degree will be assessed.
  • Exceptions to the grade requirements are provided on the doctoral programme’s website (Engineering Science - OsloMet).
• Written and oral proficiency in English (Language requirements for employees at OsloMet)

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