Post Doc Fellowship: Single Particle Catalysis in Nanoreactors

Information about the research project
Nanoparticles are the most important industrial catalysts and heterogeneity is a general feature among them. This heterogeneity is hampering the generation of deeper understanding of how catalyst particle size, shape and composition affect its activity and selectivity, as these parameters directly control the catalytic performance by determining which surface sites that are exposed to the reactants. Assessing the state, activity and selectivity of individual nanoparticles with high resolution in operando is therefore vital to the development of efficient catalysts. Moreover, operating experimentally at the level of a single nanoparticle facilitates a unique and direct link between experiment and electronic structure-based theory.

The focus of this Post Doc Fellowship is thus the design, construction and evaluation of a new and unique experimental setup that will unite plasmonic nanospectrocopy with mass spectrometry from nanofluidic reactors, to pave the way for beyond-state-of-the-art in operando characterization of catalytic processes on individual nanoparticles with well-defined and characterized size, shape and chemical composition.

The project is part of a larger focused effort towards the development of new experimental and theoretical approaches to single particle catalysis. Therefore the successful candidate will be part of a research team overarching three different departments and consisting of more than 10 PhD Students and post docs hosted by 7 different research groups, both experimental and theoretical, all working towards a common goal. Thus you will become part of and operate in a uniquely cross-disciplinary, creative, international and very dynamic environment.

Conceptually, the project is related to our recent work published in Nature Materials (2015, doi:10.1038/nmat4409)

Major responsibilities
The Post Doc will work with the design, construction and evaluation of a new experimental setup that will unite single particle plasmonic nanospectrocopy with mass spectrometry from nanofluidic reactors in order to characterize catalytic processes at the individual nanoparticle level.

Key parts of the work will be:
- Design and construction of new ground breaking research instrumentation.
- Single particle plasmonic nanospectroscopy and mass spectrometry in combination with nanofluidics.
- Evaluation of model catalytic processes at the single particle level using the developed experimental setup.

Position summary
The position is a personal stipend according to Chalmers rules. The position is limited to maximum 2 years (1+1) full-time research.

Qualifications
You must have a PhD in Chemistry with focus on catalysis and/or surface science or a PhD in Physics with focus on surface science and/or chemical physics. Your PhD must not be older than 2 years when you start the position for you to be eligible as a candidate. You must have been involved in the design and building of research instrumentation including mass spectrometry during your PhD or Post Doc. Earlier Post doc experience is a merit. Experience with a model-system type of catalysis research, and/or nanoplasmonics and/or nanofluidics are also considered a merit. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the work, which involves collaborations with other researchers and research groups within the overarching project, you are expected to have excellent collaboration skills. The position also requires excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.

Information about the research group
The Langhammer group at the Division for Chemical Physics, Department of Applied Physics, operates at the interface between materials science, nanoscience, nanoplasmonics, catalysis and in situ spectroscopy, with a particular focus on sustainable energy-related materials and nanoparticles. For that purpose we continuously develop and evolve our own methodologies for state-of-the-art nanofabrication, as well as build our own customized research instrumentation. As a group, we strive for being a dynamic, international and multidisciplinary work environment where teamwork and creativity are stimulated and highly valued, and where achieving the highest possible quality and impact in our work is the key guideline. Moreover, we continuously look for opportunities to commercialize our research.

For more info, please visit the group home page: www.langhammerlab.se and the home page of the Chemical Physics Division hosting the Langhammer group: http://www.chalmers.se/en/departments/ap/research/chemicalphysics/Pages/default.aspx 

Chalmers continuously strives to be an attractive employer. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.


Application deadline: 15 December 2015

For questions, please contact:
Associate professor Christoph Langhammer
Chemical Physics
E-mail: clangham@chalmers.se
Phone +46 73 652 89 80

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***