PhD Position: Nitrogen Valorization in -Temp Electrochemical Cells; F​/M​/X

Sustainable ammonia production is an important challenge in the transition towards a climate-neutral chemical industry. Conventional ammonia synthesis is highly energy intensive and relies predominantly on fossil-derived hydrogen. Electrochemical routes offer the possibility to produce ammonia using renewable electricity while enabling new, decentralized production concepts.

This PhD project will focus on the development of advanced materials, electrodes, and membrane-electrode assemblies for high-temperature electrochemical ammonia synthesis using solid oxide and protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (SOC and PCC technologies). Electrochemical routes offer the possibility to produce ammonia using renewable electricity while enabling new, decentralized production concepts. The research will address the electrochemical conversion of nitrogen- and NOx-containing streams towards NH3.

The project will combine catalyst and electrode development with ceramic-cell fabrication, electrochemical testing, product analysis, and advanced materials characterization. Different catalyst integration strategies, including infiltration and exsolution, will be investigated to improve activity, selectivity, and long-term stability. Particular attention will be given to electrode–electrolyte interfaces, reaction mechanisms, and degradation under realistic operating conditions.

This PhD position is part of HyNITROGEN ( (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). ) a large national research program within GroenvermogenNL that brings together more than 40 academic and industrial partners to develop sustainable production routes for ammonia and other nitrogen-based chemicals using renewable hydrogen and green electricity.

The work will be carried out in the Catalytic and Electrochemical Processes for Energy Applications (CEPEA) group  research of the group focuses on electrochemical membrane reactors for sustainable fuel production and the electrification of the chemical industry. Our activities span the full chain from functional materials and electrodes to membrane-electrode assemblies and laboratory-scale electrochemical reactors, with the overarching goal of developing scalable technologies.

• Development and evaluation of catalytic electrodes for high-temperature electrochemical ammonia synthesis.
• Fabrication, assembly, and testing of SOEC/SOFC and/or PCEC/PCFC cells.
• Integration of electrocatalysts into porous ceramic electrodes using approaches such as infiltration, impregnation, and exsolution.
• Electrochemical characterization using polarization measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and complementary techniques.
• Investigation of electrode kinetics, interfacial resistances, mass transport, and degradation mechanisms.
• Operation of ceramic electrochemical cells at temperatures typically between 400 and 800 °C and, where relevant, under elevated pressure.
• Gas-phase analysis of reaction products using GC, QMS/MS, and FTIR.
• Physico-structural characterization of materials and electrodes using techniques such as XRD, XPS, SEM/EDX, and TEM.
• Correlation of material and electrode properties with electrochemical performance, selectivity, and durability.
• Long-term durability experiments and post-test degradation analysis.
• Preparation of scientific publications and presentations at international conferences.
• Supervision and support of BSc and MSc students.
• Contribution to the collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment at DIFFER and within the project consortium.

• A Master's degree, or equivalent, in Chemical Engineering, Materials…