Open Positions

The position is available starting as soon as possible and is first scheduled for two years. An extension of another 2 years is possible.

Dopants can largely affect the properties of functional perovskite ceramics through their influence on the lattice-based intrinsic properties and their impact on the property- determined microstructure characteristics. For successful Fermi-level engineering of oxide ceramics, one crucial step is thus to understand the correlation among doping, processing, and the resultant microstructure characteristics. One of the major challenges lies in the multiphysics involvement.

This project aims to develop an electro-chemo-mechanical and Fermi-level informed phase- field grain growth model to study the microstructure evolution of perovskite oxides. The developed theory will be demonstrated for doped BaTiO3 as the prototype perovskite system. Results will reveal the formation mechanisms of GB segregation, microstructure evolution, and the resultant microstructure characteristics and their dependency on the dopants and the Fermi Energy Levels (FELs).

Within the CRC FLAIR we established an integrated Research Training Group (MGK) which aims at the education and training of a new multidisciplinary generation of functional oxide researchers in Germany and qualifying the doctoral researchers for their future careers in academia and industry. The overall features of the proposed MGK include interdisciplinary coaching of young material scientists, development of professional career skills, and integration in modern project and data management. Measures to ensure these features are implemented within a diverse multi-level qualification program concerning both scientific and professional skills and a well-thought supervision concept for doctoral researchers and post-doctoral support. For continuous improvement, constant evaluation of the MGK will be carried out based on the feedback of doctoral candidates, PIs and associates. You will find detailed information about our research projects on our Junior FLAIR – FLAIR – TU Darmstadt (tu-darmstadt.de) website.

We are looking for two motivated students to provide technical and office supports to implement our MGK measures.

Rechargeable Li-ion batteries have been widely applied not only in electronic devices but also as one of the major sources for the storage of renewable energies. Li-ion batteries work by the transfer of lithium ions between the cathode and anode electrodes during charge-discharge cycles. During these cycles, the battery electrodes experience mechanical stresses and strains that cause deformation. Cathode materials like LiMn₂O₄ experience small strains that can be analysed using linear strain theory. To analyze these deformations, the chemo-mechanics coupled formulation needs to develop.

In this work, we will develop the chemo-mechanics formulation for thin structures like beams. For this IGA solid beam element will be considered and coupled with the ion diffusion equation. After the implementation in MATLAB code, the performance of the formulation will be evaluated on several benchmark problems.

Rechargeable Li-ion batteries have been widely applied not only in electronic devices but also as one of the major sources for the storage of renewable energies. Li-ion batteries work by the transfer of lithium ions between the cathode and anode electrodes during charge-discharge cycles. During these cycles, the battery electrodes experience mechanical stresses and strains that cause deformation. Cathode materials like LiMn₂O₄ experience small strains that can be analysed using linear strain theory. To analyze these deformations, the chemo-mechanics coupled formulation needs to develop.

In this work, we will develop the chemo-mechanics formulation for thin structures like beams. For this IGA solid beam element will be considered and coupled with the ion diffusion equation. After the implementation in MATLAB code, the performance of the formulation will be evaluated on several benchmark problems.