진학프로석·박사 채용 접수 플랫폼

We are currently looking for a motivated and ambitious doctoral candidate to join our dynamic, international research team. The PhD project will be carried out within the framework of the NCN-funded project: “Smart multicomponent catalysts for CO₂ valorization processes.”

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work at the forefront of heterogeneous catalysis, with a focus on developing advanced materials for CO₂ hydrogenation. This is a unique chance to contribute to cutting-edge research in a stimulating and collaborative scientific environment. If you are passionate about catalysis, materials chemistry, and sustainability – we encourage you to apply!

Doctoral project details:

Subject: Nanostructured hierarchical catalysts with tailored morphology for thermochemical CO₂ valorization applications

Supervisor: Leszek Kępiński, Prof.

Auxiliary Supervisor: Karolina Ledwa, dr.

Discipline: chemistry

The proposed doctoral project addresses the pressing global issue of mitigating atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, focusing on its thermochemical conversion to valuable chemicals such as alcohols or hydrocarbons. Given the inherent thermodynamic stability of CO₂ and the persistent limitations of current catalytic systems (including poor selectivity and rapid deactivation) the development of efficient, selective, and stable catalysts remains a major scientific and technological challenge.

The central aim of the project is to design and synthesize a new generation of nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts featuring a hierarchical architecture, tailored explicitly for CO₂ hydrogenation. These catalysts will be based on alumina supports with controlled morphology, grafted with ceria nanoparticles doped with catalytically active metals. The chemical composition, size, and distribution of the active phase particles on the support will be meticulously engineered to optimize the catalysts’ activity, selectivity, and long-term stability. A key innovation lies in the incorporation of self-regenerative functionalities within the active phase, which are expected to enhance catalyst durability under reaction conditions.

To elucidate structure–activity relationships, the obtained materials will be in-depth characterized using advanced techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and gas adsorption-based methods. Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of in situ techniques (e.g., in situ DRIFTS, in situ TEM), which enable the monitoring of the structural and chemical evolution of catalysts under real reaction conditions.