PhD - Functional Modeling in the field of PEM Electrolysis

Low-temperature electrolysis based on proton-exchange membrane (PEM) is a practicable technology in the field of hydrogen production. To champion its technological key advantages and maximize its durability, it is indispensable to further strengthen the fundamental understanding of electrode function. You will work on the enhanced understanding and model development of the electrochemical function and performance of the membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) in PEM electrolyzers. Based on an existing MEA model, you will focus on functional phenomena that limit the performance or operation range due to a complex interplay of different physical mechanisms. Your models shall be universally applicable to both pristine and degraded states of the MEA and thereby become an important ingredient to our multi-scale toolbox for lifetime prediction on stack level. You will make maximum use of public and internal sources to parametrize and validate your models. Carrying out model-based analyses, you will boost our understanding of cause-effect relationships and identification of improvement measures for our technology, and propose experiments for more advanced model development and validation. Work with us to shape our understanding of key component function in the field of hydrogen technologies, and create a critical piece in our electrolyzer model. Being aware that an hour spent on literature research or at the phone can save months of laboratory work, you make sure that you are on top of both external and internal knowledge, in order to deliver a most valuable contribution. Make active use of the existing expertise in our internal team and your academic environment and share your knowledge and results in high-impact journals with our interdisciplinary and international teams.