Pre-announcement of PhD position on Ceramic - Molten Salt CO2 separation membranes

A PhD position in the research of dual molten-carbonate CO2 transport membranes is offered. This research is part of the project EUMEM, to be executed in the PROCACEF group (https://inma.unizar-csic.es/en/research/research-groups/procacef/ ) at the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA, https://inma.unizar-csic.es/en/home/ ). The laboratory is located in Zaragoza (Spain), where the student will be based. He/she will perform research stages in other labs, as could be the MatCORE group of the University of Newcastle which collaborates in this research. Membranes are emerging as a promising option for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in precombustion or post-combustion processes, with advantages such as simple mechanical system, easy scale up and flexibility. Compared to the more advanced polymeric membranes, inorganic membranes provide high chemical stability as well as thermal, corrosion and mechanical resistance. Often, however, one has to choose among permeability and selectivity. In this scenario, dual membranes, based on molten-carbonate infiltration in a porous inorganic support, appear as a promising option because of their extremely high selectivity to CO2 versus N2 and other gases, and high permeability. Moreover, they can operate at high temperatures (400 to 700 °C), and are therefore well suited to separate CO2 from flue gas streams. Their concept proposal is quite recent, with first patent an publications dating 2005. Development of laboratory scale modules for pre-combustion processes (H2-CO2 separation) or bench scale modules for post-combustion processes based on this type of membranes are being currently pursued. The EUMEM project objective is to disclose the operation mechanisms of this class of membranes that use oxide ceramics supports (zirconia, ceria, etc...) with micron size, long parallel pores produced by laser assisted solidification methods. At the same time, novel suitable supporting ceramic compositions which will present optimized functional performance are pursued. Along with this, manufacture procedures of those optimized ceramic supports, suitable to scalability will be developed. This is an experimental, materials science research work which will endow the candidate with a broad knowledge and skills in ceramics manufacture and characterization techniques of solid state materials (structure, microstructure, electrochemical, spectroscopic, etc.). The PhD candidate research will focus more on manufacture issues or on functional materials properties and membranes depending on the candidate interest and abilities and the project development. The project EUMEM is funded by the Programa Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento y Fortalecimiento Científico y Tecnológico del Sistema de I+D+i y del Programa Estatal de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad, en el marco del Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020.