Master Thesis

**Your Job**:
Carbon utilization technologies are rapidly developing fields of electro-catalysis. Their main focus is lowering the carbon footprint, by utilizing the excess atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), through power-to-fuel conversions. The development of liquid-fed electrolyzers is a newly found aspect of CO2-utilisation. Using a capture-solution as CO2-source, we seek to develop efficient single-cell electrolyzers. The focus of this Master thesis will be the development of catalysts/catalyst-layers and the determination of their activity for the CO2 electroreduction in a liquid-fed electrolyzer. Analysis of the catalyst layers, using microscopy techniques, will help us comprehend the material’s structure and its alterations throughout the reaction time. Additional physico-chemical characterizations will be used to describe the catalyst’s structure and correlate it with its properties. Your tasks include:

- Synthesis and fabrication of catalyst layer
- Characterization of synthesised catalyst/catalyst-layer
- Evaluation of CO2-reduction activity of the fabricated MEAs
- Electrochemical characterisation of the fabricated catalyst layers
- Stability tracking of the MEAs and recording the degradation process of the catalyst

**Your Profile**:

- Current Master studies with excellent marks in Material Science, Physics, Engineering or Chemistry
- Basic knowledge of electrochemistry and inorganic chemistry
- Laboratory experience
- Willingness to learn and ability to think outside of the box
- Excellent cooperation, communication and team-work abilities
- Independent, self-motivated and responsible
- Excellent English skills are mandatory; fluency in German is advantageous

**Our Offer**:
We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change We support you in your work with:

- An interesting and socially relevant topic for your thesis with future-oriented themes
- Ideal conditions for gaining practical experience alongside your studies
- An interdisciplinary collaboration in an international, committed and collegial team
- Well-equipped laboratories and state-of-the-art research in one of the largest research centers in Europe
- Qualified support through your scientific colleagues
- A large research campus with green spaces, offering the best possible means for networking with colleagues and pursuing sports alongside work
- The opportunity for a PhD position at the IEK-14 might be offered to you following your Master thesis with sufficient skills and available job funding provided