PhD research position in Chemistry of Triboelectric Materials

The Cluster of Excellence livMatS develops completely novel, bioinspired materials systems that adapt autonomously to various environments and harvest clean energy from their surroundings. The intention of these purely technical – yet in a behavioral sense quasi-living – materials systems is to meet the demands of humans with regard to pioneering environmental and energy technologies. The societal relevance of autonomous systems and their sustainability will thus play an important role in their development. The research program of livMatS is characterized by highly interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers from a broad range of fields including engineering, chemistry, physics, biology, psychology, the humanities, and sustainability sciences.

The livMats Cluster of Excellence is offering the following position:

PhD position for Project Chemistry of Triboelectric Materials

(Envisaged start date: October 2022)

Project description

The triboelectric effect can be used to power functional materials systems by harvesting mechanical energy from their surroundings. Unfortunately, the underlying charge separation mechanisms are still elusive. This project aims to understand the basic charge separation processes and to identify molecules and materials with maximized energy harvesting efficiency. In collaboration with excellent experimentalists you will solve one of the oldest outstanding problems in science and explain the origin of triboelectricity. To do so, you will perform density functional theory (DFT) calculations to determine the extent and mechanism of charge transfer (electron, ion, material transfer) of the provided material pairs upon mechanical contacting. You will go beyond standard DFT and use constrained density functional theory (CDFT) in combination with Marcus theory to investigate the kinetics of charge transfer reactions especially in combination with mechanochemically induced molecule fragmentation and radical formation.

Please hand in:

• Letter of intent detailing why you are interested in this specific project and how your previous research qualifies you for the project (up to 1,500 words)
• Curriculum Vitae with list of publications (if applicable)
• Certified copies of your university degree(s) with grades (BA and MA certificate / Diploma certificate and transcript)
• Short summary of your master’s thesis (up to 1,000 words)
• Work sample (chapter from recent thesis or journal article, up to 5,000 words)
• Suggestion of two referees with contact details

Your documents will not be returned after the application process. For this reason, please submit copies only. This position is limited to 36 months. The salary will be determined in accordance with TV-L E13. We are particularly pleased to receive applications from women for the position advertised here.

Please send your application in English including supporting documents mentioned above citing the reference number 00002410. Application deadline is 30 August. Applications are to be emailed as ONE SINGLE PDF FILE to [email protected] .

Direct all scientific questions about the project to Prof. Michael Moseler