The Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Water Electrolysis Group at Argonne National Laboratory is seeking to hire a postdoctoral appointee for fabricating and testing polymeric ion-exchange membranes for fuel cell. The candidate will be a part of the Transportation and Power Systems Division within the Advanced Energy Technologies Directorate at Argonne. The role will involve synergistic collaborations with a multidisciplinary team involving experimentalists that work on electrocatalysts and advanced metrology, physics-based cell and systems level modeling, and membrane manufacturers.

The candidate is expected to synthesize a library of hydrocarbon (or low-fluorine content) proton exchange ionomers using super-acid catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation and ring-opening metathesis (ROMP) polymerization. The candidate may need to make ionomers via other synthetic routes. Synthesis activities will also include incorporation of ionic moieties into the material post-polymer synthesis and using monomers with ionic moieties. The candidate should be proficient in NMR and gel-permeation chromatography as well as measuring ionic conductivity, ion-exchange capacity, and water uptake. We will teach the candidate how to fabricate membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for fuel cell testing; however, experience in making MEAs is a plus.

Position Requirements

• Ph.D. in chemical engineering, chemistry, and materials science and engineering.

• Expertise in polymer synthesis and characterization, as well as membrane fabrication and measuring the electrochemical properties of ionomer membranes.

• The ability to work collaboratively with teams and individuals in other divisions, laboratories, and companies.

• Skilled communication skills – both written and oral at all levels of the organization.

• Ability to present research at technical meetings and publish results in peer reviewed journal articles.

• Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.

• Ability to make our laboratory a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and accessible environment where all can thrive.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge in polymer synthesis, characterization, and membrane fabrication.

• Testing the properties of ionomer membranes including conductivity, water uptake, and ion-exchange capacity.

• The ability to fabricate membrane electrode assemblies for single-cell electrochemical testing.

• Experience in interdisciplinary collaborative research.

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