Postdoctoral Research Associate in Zn-ion battery

About us

An exciting opportunity is available for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to join the Institute for Materials Discovery (IMD) at University College London. This position focuses on the development of next-generation high-performance aqueous Zn-ion batteries, with a particular emphasis on stabilising the Zn metal anode by suppressing side reactions, dendrite growth, and interfacial degradation. This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment available for 18 months, starting from July 2026.

About the role

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries are emerging as one of the most promising energy storage technologies for large-scale, safe, and sustainable power supply due to their low cost, environmental friendliness, intrinsic safety, and high theoretical capacity of Zn metal anodes. However, their practical deployment is severely limited by poor cycling stability caused by parasitic hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), Zn dendrite formation, corrosion, and unstable electrode/electrolyte interfaces. Addressing these challenges is critical for enabling Zn-ion batteries to meet the increasing demands for reliable grid storage, wearable electronics, and next-generation portable power systems.

This project aims to engineer an advanced artificial solid electrolyte interphase (aSEI) on Zn metal anodes that can effectively shield the Zn surface from direct water contact, suppress hydrogen evolution and dendrite growth, while simultaneously enabling rapid Zn-ion transport and efficient charge conduction. The ultimate goal is to realise highly stable, dendrite-free, and long-cycle-life Zn-ion batteries with significantly enhanced electrochemical performance.

The project will be led at UCL under the supervision of Dr Buddha Deka Boruah (https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/87661) and will involve close collaboration with Prof. Michael De Volder (https://www.nanomanufacturing.eng.cam.ac.uk/) at University of Cambridge. Artificial separator development will be carried out at Cambridge, while UCL will focus on the design and fabrication of advanced artificial interphase layers directly on Zn metal anodes, alongside full-cell validation and mechanistic electrochemical studies.

This highly interdisciplinary project offers an outstanding opportunity to work at the forefront of battery materials research, combining interfacial engineering, advanced electrochemistry, operando characterisation, and next-generation energy storage technologies. The successful candidate should have a strong background in batteries, interfacial science, electrochemistry, and materials characterisation, with a passion for developing impactful solutions for sustainable energy storage.

About you

The successful candidate should have a strong foundation in batteries, interfacial studies, electrochemistry, and electrochemical characterisation techniques. The PDRA’s primary responsibilities will encompass the development of artificial interphase engineering strategies, Zn anode protection, advanced electrochemical testing, and in-situ/ex-situ experimental investigations to gain a comprehensive understanding of Zn plating/stripping behaviour and charge storage mechanisms. The candidate will be actively engaged in primary research activities within the IMD while fostering effective collaboration with project partners.

Please refer to the UCL Jobs webpage for all details concerning this position.

Customer advert reference: B04-07364

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