Open PhD. position - Chemistry and electrochemistry of rare earth elements in molten fluorides: recycling and recovery

As we progress toward a more sustainable technologies, demand for raw resources, such as Rare Earth Elements will probably rise exponentially. There are no market-ready alternatives, hence the EU is mostly dependent on imports of rare earth elements. To identify the best solution for guaranteeing the sustainable production/recycling of these materials in the optimal eco–economic way in the future, high temperature electrolysis in molten salts promises great potential. The present PHD project deals with the complex physico-chemical (phase equilibria, density, viscosity, surface properties, electrical conductivity), and electrochemical (thermodynamic, kinetic, and diffusion parameters of related redox couples)) analysis of molten fluoride electrolyte systems with rare earth metals.

Keywords: rare earth elements, molten salt chemistry, electrometallurgy, recycling, high temperature physical chemistry

Supervisor:Dr. Michal Korenko