Postdoc (f/m/d) for the Development of Atomic Layer Deposition Processes for Functional Thin-Film Hetero-catalysts

Job Description

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) is establishing the research platform for catalysis, CatLab with the Fritz Haber Institute (FHI), the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion (CEC), and in close cooperation with industry, in Berlin’s technology park Adlershof.
This long-term project forms the core of a new research focus at HZB and aims to develop novel catalytic systems based on thin-film and nanotechnology for the generation, transport, and storage of green hydrogen. CatLab will build a bridge between basic research and industry and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
To support this project, we seek a postdoctoral researcher who will be responsible for the development of (metallic) functional coatings, for heterogeneous catalysis using atomic layer deposition (ALD). Since hetero-catalyst activity is enhanced by a high surfaces area, thin-film hetero-catalysts will benefit from 3D substrates. ALD uses sequential self-limiting surface reactions which enable sub-nm control of the thickness of the growing film enabling not only conformal coating of 3D substrates but minimizing the amount of costly material used for catalysts. The aim is to develop and demonstrate the use of ALD to synthesise thin-film materials as catalysts for electrochemical and thermochemical processes.

Your Tasks

• You use knowledge of gas-phase deposition to develop and optimize ALD growth processes for multilayers for hetero-catalysis on a variety of substrates.
• You identify and test suitable chemical precursors and process parameters with the aim of achieving high through put, low contamination and high reproducibility in view of future transfer to high volume synthesis.
• You characterise the growing films in situ (during ALD) to study the thin-film growth mechanism on different substrates and quantify how the deposition chemistry and applied surface pre-treatment affect the catalytical performance of the thin-film materials.
• You supervise and guide PhD students, master students and internship students on a daily basis.
• You present results at project meetings, national and international conferences and publish them in peer reviewed scientific journals and reports.

Your Profile

• Successfully completed doctoral degree in chemistry, physics, materials science, or a similar field
• Strong research background in gas-phase deposition techniques evidenced by record of publications e.g., in peer reviewed papers and conference proceedings
• Comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience in atomic layer deposition as well as in-situ characterization using ellipsometry, quartz crystal microbalance QCM, etc.
• Proven experience in characterising thin-films using surface analysis methods such as atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering and X-ray reflectivity
• Good command of spoken and written English, knowledge of German desirable

Your Benefits at HZB

• Work in one of the renowned non-university research institutions in Berlin
• Research for a climate-friendly future in collaboration with notable partners from a wide range of industrial sectors and academic fields
• Attractive fringe benefits including a company pension scheme (VBL) and a subsidized public transport card for the Berlin area
• Flexible working models, mobile working, and an internal support service to strike the right work-life balance
• A variety of health management and company sports programmes

Fixed term contract for 27 months. The salary is based on the Collective Agreement for the German Public Service (TVöD-Bund).

How to apply

 

• Please accompany your application with a letter of motivation, a CV, and copies of your master’s/diploma certificate and transcripts, reference letters from previous employers and /or relevant peer reviewed publications (if available), as evidence of your practical experience. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• The position is initially limited to 30^th June 2025.

We look forward to receiving your application via our application management system by 07.04.2023. For reasons of data protection regulations, we are unfortunately unable to consider applications that reach us by email or by mail in the application process.

 

We strive to increase the proportion of female employees and are therefore particularly pleased to receive applications from women. Disabled applicants with equal aptitude are given preference.