PhD Scholarship in Mechanistic Investigation of Transient Build-up of Water-Layer on Electronic Surface and Electrochemical Failures under Low and High Voltage

If you are looking for an exciting opportunity for a PhD, we at Materials and Surface Engineering section, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering (DTU Construct), Technical University of Denmark, is seeking candidate for a PhD position (3 years) to work on investigating transient build-up condensed water layer on electronics surfaces such as Printed Circuit Board Assembly and DBC Substrates and how they lead to electrochemical failures under low and high voltage bias. 

The project will also include the development of secondary electrochemical models as digital twins. This PhD project is part of CreCon – Industrial Consortium for Climatically Reliable Electronics at DTU. The PhD position also provides an opportunity to work in collaboration with major industries involved in electric vehicles/renewable energy systems.

Responsibilities and qualifications

Humidity is one of the key environmental factors that cause corrosion failure on electronic surfaces such as PCBA. Under conducive conditions, humidity forms water layer on active PCBA surfaces or any other electronic surfaces in the form of condensation, which leads to electrochemical failure modes such as electrochemical migration failures. Condensed water layer forms on any surface as concentric droplets, which grow into bigger droplets by coalescing together. Hence, corrosion failure in electronics under condensed water layer formation, growth and morphology of the layer play a big role, which is also a function of surface property of the substrate such as surface energy, roughness etc. 

This PhD project aims to systematically investigate the condensed water film build up on electronic surfaces such polymer based PCBA substrates as well as ceramic DBC substrates and how they translate into failure. Work will also involve developing condensation models. The study will quantify the condensation rate vs morphology on various surfaces, while understanding how they translate into electrochemical failure depending on the creepage distance, potential bias, and surface characteristics such as solder mask surface morphology and surface energy. The PhD project will also focus on investigating how solder mask surface can be modified for hydrophobicity. Studies will also be carried out to understand how gravity plays a role in concentric droplet formation, coalescence, and fall when the PCBAs are arranged in vertical or angled conditions. 

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree. 

Specialization should be in Materials Science and engineering or related subjects such as corrosion science and engineering. Masters in electronics/electrical engineering with prior experience on humidity/corrosion reliability of electronics is also suitable. For all qualifications, prior experience of corrosion of electronics or similar topics is an advantage. A combination of knowledge in electronics, materials, corrosion, and reliability is preferred. 

Further information 

Professor Rajan Ambat, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, DTU, E-mail: raam@dtu.dk Dr. Kapil Kumar Gupta, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, DTU, E-mail: kkgup@dtu.dk  

Application procedure 

To apply, please read the full job advertisement by clicking the 'Apply' button

You can read more about DTU Construct at www.Construct.dtu.dk and about DTU at www.dtu.dk/english.

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