Master Thesis »Electrochemical Characterization and Solar-to-Hydrogen Efficiency of Large-Scale Photoelectrodes«

Kennziffer IMWS-2021-17

The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Halle (Saale), Germany, characterizes, simulates and evaluates the behaviour of materials, components and systems under mechanical and environmental loads aiming solutions to improve the safety, reliability, durability and functionality of technical components and systems.

Within our team »Diagnostics and Metrology« we are currently offering a topic for master thesis »Electrochemical Characterization and Solar-to-Hydrogen Efficiency of Large-Scale Photoelectrodes«.

Target:
An LED sun simulator test bench for photoelectrochemical water splitting shall be expanded with a gas-analysis device in order to determine the solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of large-scale photoelectrodes.

Motivation and Background:
Solar water splitting is expected to be a central component of any future carbon-neutral energy infrastructure. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a technology in which light absorption and chemical reaction occur in the same device. This direct approach has several advantages over photovoltaic-driven electrolysis.

During the last decades, materials were found which combine a high activity and an excellent long-term stability and have low costs for materials and preparation. However, most of them were investigated in lab-scale reactors with an active area of only some square millimeters. A significant scale-up is necessary for a future application of the PEC technology. This poses significant challenges for the electrode preparation and the performance measurements. New test setups have to be developed to facilitate the scale-up of PEC water splitting devices for real-world applications.

In this master thesis, large-scale electrodes for PEC water splitting shall be investigated with electrochemical methods in an existing test bench. A device for the measurement of the evolved gases shall be integrated and used to determine the solar-tohydrogen Efficiency.

Task:

Characterization of photoelectrodes with electrochemical methods and quantum efficiencies

Integration and application of additional measuring devices for gas analysis

Determination of the solar-to-hydrogen efficiency

Was Sie mitbringen
Requirements:

• Studies in chemical engineering, chemistry, physics or comparable (University, FH)
• Experience in experimental work, data analysis and construction of test devices
• Self-reliant scientist and team player

(keine Angaben)
http://www.imws.fraunhofer.de
 

Remuneration according to the general works agreement for employing assistant staff.
In case of identical qualifications preference will be given to severely disabled candidates.
We would like to point out that the chosen job title also includes the third gender.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft emphasises gender-independent professional equality.


Fraunhofer is Europe’s largest application-oriented research organization. Our research efforts are geared entirely to people’s needs: health, security, communication, energy and the environment. As a result, the work undertaken by our researchers and developers has a significant impact on people’s lives. We are creative. We shape technology. We design products. We improve methods and techniques. We open up new Vistas.


Additional questions will be answered gladly by:

Dr. Christian Hagendorf
Phone: 0345 5589-5100

Dr. David Adner
Phone: 0345 5589-277



If we could arise your interest please apply with all necessary documents through our online applicant management system.

Fraunhofer-Institut für Mikrostruktur von Werkstoffen und Systemen IMWS
Halle

http://www.imws.fraunhofer.de

---