PhD Position in Materials Chemistry for Sodium-Ion Batteries

The Department of Chemistry - Ångström conducts research and education in the field of chemistry.

The department has 270 employees and a turnover of 300 million SEK. At the department's six programs, highly successful research of high international class is conducted. We have a large number of externally funded research projects, often with international collaboration, and we see continued good growth within our subject area. The department has educational assignments within engineering and master’s programs. More information can be found on our website (https://www.uu.se/institution/kemi-angstrom).

Job Description

Applications are welcomed from highly motivated PhD candidates for a project in materials chemistry focusing on rare earth-rich cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The position is placed within the research program Structural Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry - Ångström.

The PhD project focuses on cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries, with particular emphasis on the iron-based polyanionic cathode material Na4Fe3(PO4)2(P2O7) (NFPP). Sodium-ion batteries are gaining increasing interest as a resource-efficient alternative for stationary energy storage, but broader implementation is still limited by cathode-related challenges such as phase purity, defect chemistry, conductivity, and long-term stability.

The project is fundamentally scientific and aims to establish a mechanistic understanding of how phase purity, defect chemistry, carbon architecture, and surface development affect electrochemical performance and degradation in sodium-ion cathodes. The main task is to synthesize, characterize, and electrochemically evaluate NFPP cathode materials and relate the results to structural chemistry and surface development to build a fundamental mechanistic understanding. The PhD candidate will work with controlled synthesis and composition tuning of NFPP-based cathode materials, including ion exchange strategies and carbon network design, followed by electrode fabrication and electrochemical testing in half and full cell configurations. Controlled cycling protocols, including partial charge levels, long-term cycling, and temperature-dependent tests, will be used to investigate degradation mechanisms and durability. The work encompasses a wide range of characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as various electrochemical measurements, with the opportunity to contribute to operando and synchrotron-based studies in collaboration with the research group.

As a PhD candidate, you will conduct research under supervision, participate in graduate courses, and contribute to planning experiments, data analysis, scientific reporting, presentations at conferences, and publication in peer-reviewed journals. The project may also involve contacts with external industrial actors, and you are expected to participate in relevant meetings and collaborative activities. An individual study plan will be established at the beginning of the employment, taking into account your background in relation to the project's goals and implementation. The work will be conducted at the Ångström Laboratory with access to relevant facilities for materials synthesis, electrochemical measurements, and advanced characterization. Teaching and other departmental duties may be included, but not exceeding 20 percent of the working time.

Qualifications

Eligible for doctoral education is someone who has:

• completed a master's degree in chemistry, physics, or materials science, or is expected to meet the requirements for such a degree before the employment begins, or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the advanced level (of which 15 higher education credits constitute independent work), with content relevant to doctoral education, or
• acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way, within or outside the country.

The applicant must also have:

• very good knowledge of English, both spoken and written.
• knowledge in materials science and electrochemical energy storage systems.
• basic experience in experimental work within materials-related research.

Great importance will also be attached to personal qualities such as good collaboration skills, drive, and independence, as well as how the applicant, through their experience and competence, is assessed to have the ability needed to complete the doctoral education.

Desirable/Meritorious

• practical experience in materials synthesis and structural characterization.
• knowledge in electrochemistry and sodium or lithium-ion batteries.
• practical experience in synthesis and characterization of cathode materials.
• experience in scientific programming and data analysis (e.g., Python).
• experience in synchrotron-based experiments.

About the Position

The position is temporary, according to HF 5 chap. § 7. The extent is full-time. Start date June 1, 2026, or by agreement. Location: Uppsala.

Regulations for doctoral students can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance 5 chap. §§ 1-7 and on our website (https://www.uu.se/medarbetare/organisation-styrning/regler/).

Inquiries about the position can be made to:
Haidong Liu, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Welcome with your application by April 10, 2026, UFV-PA 2026/553.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of the most exciting workplaces in the country.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University here (https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/).

The position may be subject to security clearance. A prerequisite for employment during security clearance is that the applicant is approved.

We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance.

Applications are received in Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Union representatives: Saco-S - [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), Seko - [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), ST (OFR/S) - [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])