POSTDOCTORAL POSITION: TEM under Catalytic Conditions
The main aim of the project is to perform operando high-resolution TEM
studies on model catalysts under actual operation conditions: high
temperatures and atmospheric pressures. This work will play an important
role in a collaboration between academia and industry in the NIMIC project
'Nano-Imaging under Industrial Conditions' (www.realnano.nl
<http://www.realnano.nl> ). This project combines the development and
application of in-situ TEM and scanning probe techniques. For the operando
TEM experiments, the post-doc will use special nanoreactors that have been
developed within the NIMIC project; new generations of these high-pressure
cells will be designed according to the requirements of the post-doc and
other users in the NIMIC consortium. An important initial task for the
postdoc will be to test and optimize the nanoreactors and the peripheral
instrumentation, such as gas systems, TEM holders and loading tools. Once
the instruments are fully operational, the postdoc will use them for the
investigation of a variety of catalytic systems Œin action¹.
The post-doc¹s TEM results will be correlated with the high-pressure STM
results obtained on the same catalytic systems at Leiden University, the
ultimate goal being to reach a complete atomic/molecular-scale understanding
of catalytic mechanisms under relevant process conditions. The operando TEM
studies will also be coupled to bulk catalyst performance studies in
conventional catalytic testing equipment, to identify opportunities,
problems and limitations in the use of the two operando techniques, aiding
their development and optimisation. The postdoc will perform his/her work in
intimate collaboration and communication with researchers at the Delft
University of Technology, Leiden University, the catalyst companies
Albemarle (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) and Haldor Topsoe (Lyngby, Denmark)
and the TEM-manufacturing company FEI.
The appointment will be for two years initially with a possible extension of
another year. The postdoc will be employed by the Delft University of
Technology and make use of the high-resolution TEM facilities in Delft and
at the company Haldor Topsoe in Lyngby, Denmark.
We will accept applications until Sunday, December 6, midnight.
Dr. –
BL Delft
The Netherlands
Telephone:
Email:
