PostDoc research position in the project Development of sustainable and flexible SolStore devices

The Cluster of Excellence livMatS develops 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.

Project description

Photosupercapacitors and photobatteries are an emerging class of multifunctional devices that allow concomitantly harvesting and storing solar energy in one integrated, monolithic device. Such devices are highly relevant in the context of the Internet of Things as well as in the field of energy-autonomous soft robotics. The present project aims to develop at least one fully sustainable photosupercapacitor (SusPhotoCap) and one fully sustainable photobattery (SusPhotoBat). Sustainability concepts will be applied to design these devices, including material choice, synthesis, and processing on the component level, as well as device fabrication and analysis. Recycling aspects will also be considered. In addition, flexible devices will be developed along with suitable materials and fabrication strategies to compatibilise the systems with the field of soft robotics.

The postdoc we are looking for in this project should have experience in material design, material processing, device fabrication, and characterization, including electrochemistry, in the field of electrochemical energy storage (supercapacitors, batteries) and/or photovoltaics.

Candidate profile

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who:

• holds a PhD degree in chemistry, physical chemistry, material science, engineering, or physics;
• has experience in solar cells, electrochemical energy systems, materials synthesis and processing, electrochemistry;
• is strongly motivated to execute experimental work;
• is independent and has a problem-solving mindset;
• can assist students with project work, exercise, and lab sessions for chemical lab courses;
• has excellent written and spoken English skills and has experience in proposal writing;
• has a highly developed team spirit and enjoys working in an international research environment;

Knowledge of the German language is not mandatory but advantageous.

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 a list of publications
• Certified copies of your university degree(s) with grades (B.Sc., M.Sc. and PhD certificate / Diploma certificate and transcript)
• A short summary of your PhD thesis (up to 1,000 words)
• Work sample (chapter from recent thesis or journal article, up to 5,000 words)
• Suggestion of two references 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 the end of December 2025. The salary will be determined in accordance with TV-L E13.