Postdoctoral Researcher – Biodegradable battery ecodesign and characterization

BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, is an autonomous research center launched in June 2012 by Ikerbasque, the Basque Foundation for Science and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) as a research center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures. The center is included in the BERC s (Basque Excellence Research Centers) network and its mission is to generate knowledge on the new generation of materials, turning this knowledge into (multi)functional solutions and devices for the benefit of society.
The upcoming wave of power hungry Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensing nodes will strongly increase the primary battery demand in the near future thus aggravating the environmental impact associated to its production and the generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) after its operation lifetime.
This project proposes to develop a new battery concept based on the principles of ecodesign and circular economy. Thus, batteries will be designed and fabricated to ensure an optimal use of resources while reducing their potential environmental impact throughout their whole life cycle. In this way, the project aims to change the current paradigm of portable batteries from a ‘one-size-fits-all to a new ´tailor-made model where batteries are ecodesigned to fit the life cycle of the device to be powered.
The purpose of the postdoctoral position is research in the NABICO project - PID2022-139250OB-C31 approved by the Ministry with an estimated completion date of 08/31/2026.

Skills and Requirements
Required:
- PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Materials Science or Engineering
- Robust knowledge and experience in battery fabrication and characterization.
- Knowledge of electrical conductivity characterization of films and structures.
- Electrochemical characterization techniques.
Desired:
- Robust knowledge and experience in biobased hydrogel preparation and redox polymers.
- Experience in preparation and characterization of organic species, hydrogels and polymers with redox activity.
- Experience in pyrolysis of organic materials.
- Knowledge of rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing techniques, including printed electronics.

Work Program / Duties / Responsibilities
Design and fabrication of battery prototypes.
Electrical characterization of carbon-based electrodes.
Electrochemical characterization of electroactive species.
Evaluation of ionic conductivity of biobased polymer electrolyte membranes.
Battery performance characterization.
Preparation of samples for biodegradability and compostability assessment.