New electrolytes for aqueous organic redox flow batteries

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New electrolytes for aqueous organic redox flow batteries

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Offer DescriptionCall for expression of interest descriptionThe is a highly prestigious renowned EU-funded scheme. It offers talented scientists a unique chance to set up 2-year research and training projects with the support of a supervising team. Besides providing an attractive grant, it represents a major opportunity to boost the career of promising researchers.Research laboratories in Brittany are thus looking for excellent postdoctoral researchers with an international profile to write a persuasive proposal to apply for a Marie S. Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship grant in 2024 (deadline of the EU call set on 11 September 2024). The topic and research team presented below have been identified in this regard.Main Research FieldChemistry (CHE)Research sub- field(s)Environment and Geosciences (ENV)KeywordsRedox Flow batteries, posolyte, negolyte, organic redox compounds, solubilizing agentsResearch project descriptionDue to the importance of long-duration energy storage and its hybridization with renewable energy technologies for the energy transition, much attention is paid to the development of aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFB). One of the key factors for the industrial application of AORFB is the solubility of redox active species, allowing high energy density to be reached. Industrial requirements fix a minimum value of 10 Wh L-1 as the total energy density limit, corresponding to those of the current vanadium technology [1].Molecular engineering, widely used in the literature to achieve this objective, can lead to complex syntheses affecting the cost of the electrolyte and therefore of the storage system. The introduction of solubilizing groups can also lead to further instability of the redox compounds during cycling, as it has been shown with the decarboxylation reaction of alizarin-3-methyliminodiacetic acid (AMA) and the nucleophilic attack of anthraquinone, viologen and ferrocene derivatives. Another way of reaching the required energy density is to increase the solubility of inexpensive commercial compounds by modifying their electrolytic environment [2, 3]. This less-exploited approach is interesting for achieving energy density targets while maintaining good stability and moderate cost.It has been shown that the addition of solubilizing compounds such as hydrotropes and ionic liquids is a good mean to increase the solubility, without affecting the conductivity of the electrolyte. Increased solubility due to the presence of solubilizing compounds has been demonstrated with anthraquinones, flavins, TEMPO and azobenzene derivatives. The solubility is also affected by the nature of the counterions as observed with several redox species such as viologens, anthraquinones, ferrocenes, TEMPO derivatives and ferrocyanide. Quaternary ammonium cations have proved their efficiency to improve the solubility of anthraquinones.Based on this knowledge, this project proposes to go further in the fine optimization of negolytes and posolytes formulation. The goal is to increase the solubility of low- cost redox active species by adding effective solubilizers. The Postdoctoral fellow will work in collaboration with PhD students focused on the synthesis of new posolyte and negolyte. He will find the best electrolytic media for the new redox species and will test them in AORFB.[1] J.-M. Fontmorin, S. Guiheneuf, T. Godet-Bar, D. Floner, F. Geneste, Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci., 61 (2022) 101624.[2] D. Floner, L. Paquin, S. Guiheneuf, F. Geneste, J.-P. Bazureau, (Universite de Rennes 1; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), WO2017212179, 2017.[3] J.-M. Fontmorin, S. Guiheneuf, P. Bassil, F. Geneste, D. Floner, Electrochem. Commun., 132 (2021) 107148.Supervisor(s)The Postdoctoral Fellow will be supervised by Dr Florence Geneste. She was graduated from CPE Lyon and completed her Ph.D. at the University Paris-Sud. She worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Thomson-CSF (France) and at the University of Cambridge (UK). She is CNRS research director at ISCR. She is working in the MaCSE group in electrochemistry where she manages several activities including RFB. She is well experienced in project management and she is currently coordinator of an ANR program on AORFB from PEPR batteries. She is co-founder of the Kemiwatt company. Her activity has led to 99 publications in international journals, 10 patents (6 licenses) and 14 invited conferences. During the last five years, she has (co)-managed 8 PhD theses (3 in progress).Example of articles * “Addition of weak acids in electrolytes to prevent osmosis in AORFBs.” J.-M. Fontmorin, S. Guihéneuf, P. Bassil, F. Geneste, D. Floner, Electrochem. Commun., 2021 132, 107148.

• “A new hydroxyanthraquinone derivative with a low and reversible capacity fading process as negolyte in alkaline aqueous redox flow batteries.” S. Guiheneuf, T. Godet-Bar, J.-M. Fontmorin, C. Jourdin, D. Floner, F. Geneste, J. Power Sources, 2022, 539, 231600.
• “Long-cycling of a water-soluble quinizarin derivative in redox flow batteries: Role of the cut-off voltage on the stability.” I. Ozouf, J.-M. Fontmorin, R. Lebeuf, G. Mathieu,S. Guiheneuf, G. Ozouf, V. Nardello-Rataj, T. Godet-Bar, D. Floner, J.-M. Aubry, F. Geneste, Electrochim. Acta, 2024, 475, 143570.

Department/ ResearchThe Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes (ISCR) is a joint Research Department (UMR: Unité Mixte de Recherche) associating the CNRS (INC et INSIS), The Université de Rennes, the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes (ENSCR) and the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Rennes (INSA de Rennes). This Institute, founded in January 1st, 2006, gathers together all the academic forces in chemistry from the Rennes site. At the beginning of 2023, it brings together more than 280 permanent people, including approximately 140 assistant-professors and professors, 60 CNRS researchers and 80 engineers and technicians, at the Rennes Beaulieu, Rennes Villejean and Lannion IUT sites, leading to an overall workforce of more than 500 people. Its organisation in eight research teams of various sizes along with two administrative and scientific technical departments, makes it possible to combine effectively the scientific advantages of a structure covering a wide disciplinary field combined with a management supportive of everyone. The ambition of ISCR is to conduct top-level research in its core business: the design, the synthesis and the characterization of molecules and functional materials. The research fields cover a wide range of applications including energy. The laboratory has all the equipment required for the research project (physico-chemical characterization of compounds, 16 redox flow batteries of 25 cm2 with pumps and multipotentiostat etc.). ISCR has established international collaborations throughout the five continents and is involved in many international and national projects.LocationInstitut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes – UMR CNRS 6226Université de RennesCampus de Beaulieu – Bât. 10B F-35042 Rennes Cedex, FranceSuggestion for interdisciplinary / intersectoral secondments and placementsA 6-month secondment can be envisaged at the different laboratories involved in the project in order to test results/perform specific tasks requiring expertise on operando analyses and/or on membrane characterization.RequirementsResearch Field Chemistry Education Level PhD or equivalentSkills/QualificationsThe candidate should have a good knowledge of organic electrochemistry and physical-chemistry. A first experience in the field of Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries will be highly appreciated. Candidates must be organized, able to work in a team and to present their results clearly, both orally and in writing.Required Language: EnglishPublications: at least 4 as 1st authorLanguages ENGLISH Level ExcellentAdditional InformationEligibility criteriaAcademic qualification: By 11 September 2024, applicants must be in possessionof a doctoral degree, defined as a successfully defended doctoral thesis, even if the doctoral degree has yet to be awarded.Research experience: Applicants must have a maximum of 8 years full-timeequivalent experience in research, measured from the date applicants were in possession of a doctoral degree. Years of experience outside research and career breaks (e.g. due to parental leave), will not be taken into account.Nationality & Mobility rules: Applicants can be of any nationality but must nothave resided more than 12 months in France in the 36 months immediately prior to the MSCA-PF call deadline on 11 September 2024.Selection processWe encourage all motivated and eligible postdoctoral researchers to send their expressions of interest through the EU Survey application form ( ), before 5th of May 2024. Your application shall include:

• a CV specifying: (i) the exact dates for each position and its location (country) and (ii) a list of publications;

• a cover letter including a research outline (up to 2 pages) identifying the research synergies with the project supervisor(s) and proposed research topics described above.

Estimated timetableDeadline for sending an expression of interest5th May 2024Selection of the most promising application(s)May – June 2024Writing the MSCA-PF proposal with the support of the above-mentioned supervisor(s)June – September 2024MSCA-PF 2024 call deadline11th September 2024Publication of the MSCA-PF evaluation resultsFebruary 2025Start of the MSCA-PF project (if funded)May 2025 (at the earliest)Website for additional job detailsWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes – UMR CNRS 6226 Country France City Rennes Postal Code 35042 Street 263 avenue Général Leclerc GeofieldWhere to apply WebsiteContact CityRennes WebsiteStreet263 avenue Général Leclerc Postal Code35042 E-Mail[email protected]STATUS: EXPIRED

Expected salary

Location

Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine

Job date

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:24:30 GMT

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