Postdoc position on self-healing strategies for lithium-ion batteries

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.
Empa’s Laboratory Materials for Energy Conversion focuses on materials and device innovation for sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies. The aim of the project is to extend cycle life by the controlled release of active lithium.

Your tasks

  • Develop lithiation agents to recover lost active lithium during operation of the battery 
  • Develop electrochemical protocols to trigger controlled lithium release from these lithiation agents 
  • Study gas release during delithiation of the lithiation agents with online electro-chemical mass spectrometry 
  • Writing of scientific publications and presentations at scientific conferences 
  • Collaborate closely with a team of chemists, materials scientists, and analytical chemists

Your profile

  • PhD in chemistry (or a closely related field such as materials science) 
  • Experience in inorganic chemistry, electrochemistry, or battery research is an advantage 
  • You enjoy interdisciplinary teamwork and are motivated to publish high-impact results 
  • Fluency in English; German is an asset

Our offer

We offer an international, highly stimulating research environment with excellent infrastructure for battery research, including Schlenk lines, various furnaces, ball mills, ALD, PVD, gloveboxes, 1500+ battery cycler channels, XRD, SEM, XPS, etc. The starting date is January 2026 or upon mutual agreement, and the employment contract is limited to two years. The lab is located at Empa's main campus in Dübendorf, which is conveniently located next to Zurich, Switzerland.
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 online application including a one-page letter of motivation, CV, publication list, diplomas with transcripts, and preferably two reference letters or contact details of two referees. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal. Applications by e-mail and by post will not be considered.
David Heusser, HR Partner
 

Questions?

  Ruben-Simon Kühnel

Materials for Energy Conversion
+41 58 765 4665
https://www.empa.ch/econversion

Your future place of work

Empa
Ueberlandstrasse 129
8600 Dübendorf

Empa as an employer

Innovative, sustainable, meaningful activities
Creating added value for society
International, multicultural working environment
Freedom to create and develop
Culture of inclusion and respect
Excellent balance between different areas of life
Multiple award-winning and certified employer
Benefits for rail, mobile, childcare, catering, etc.