PhD position on rapidly pulsed radio-frequency plasmas for gas conversion

The Department of Applied Physics and Science Education is a research-driven department housing high-quality educational programs, all featuring strong connections between research and education. Our research is clustered in three focal areas: Fluids, Bio and Soft Matter (FBSM); Plasmas and Beams (PB); and Nano, Quantum and Photonics (NQP). Our shared ambition is to equip the next generation of ‘engineers of the future’ with the knowledge and the skills they will need to impact science, innovation, and society, from regional to global scales.

Introduction

Are you interested in plasma physics? Do you want to help demonstrate the usefulness of radio-frequency driven plasmas for industrial processes? We are looking for a motivated PhD student to investigate rapidly pulsed radio-frequency plasmas used for gas conversion.

Job Description

Background

Plasma processing systems are often powered by 13.56 MHz radiofrequency (RF) waveforms. However, advances have been held back by i) lack of precise control of the RF signal and ii) the low energy efficiency of RF generators, which prevents the utilization of RF-driven plasmas in energy sensitive applications like CO2 conversion or ammonia synthesis.

However, recent advances in power electronics have led to large improvements in the power efficiency of RF generators and the possibility to operate without impedance matching, allowing them to maintain this high efficiency even under rapidly changing load conditions, such as during pulsed operation. This opens up new operating regimes that have previously been inaccessible and will be explored in this project.

Your project

Within this PhD project, you will investigate an RF-driven plasma using an advanced power generator to enable rapid pulsing of the discharge, fast active control and high efficiency. You will explore the influence of the electric parameters on the plasma chemistry using two reference systems: 1) atomic oxygen production in an O2 plasma and 2) NOx production in a N2-O2 plasma.

For this, you will set up a dedicated experiment and use state-of-the-art equipment and measurement methods including Langmuir probes and optical diagnostics such as absorption spectroscopy to answer research questions like:

• What is the influence of the electrical parameters (pulse frequency, pulse length, coupling, etc.) on the production of relevant chemical species?
• Does pulsing enable cold plasma operation at elevated pressures?
• Can we accelerate the transition from the capacitive coupling mode to the inductive mode in ICP (inductively coupled plasma) discharges?

You will join the plasma & materials processing group (PMP) in the Applied Physics and Science Education department of TU/e. Within PMP, you will work as part of an international team of passionate, dedicated people working on topics like new materials for the semiconductor industry and for photovoltaics; on plasma chemistry and catalysis; as well as on advanced plasma and surface diagnostics. The group offers well-equipped labs, excellent technical support and an enjoyable and sociable working environment.

Job Requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in (applied) physics, electrical engineering, chemistry or in a related subject.
• Ideally: Prior knowledge on plasma physics and optical spectroscopy is appreciated.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interest in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Motivation to develop your teaching skills and coach Bachelor and Master students.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,059 - max. € 3,881).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager dr. Julian Held, email [emailprotected].

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HR Services, email [emailprotected].

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including the contact information of two references.
• Brief summary of your MSc thesis.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.