Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine
Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance
Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine
Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History
Luxembourg Centre for European Law
Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental SystemsJoin our group
Do you want to join our group? All open positions are announced on https://recruitment.uni.lu/
More info
Opportunities
We welcome discussion from possible PhD researchers who are interested in joining the Paul Wurth Chair. In particular, where candidates bring their own funding from corporate, philanthropic or a funding agency, we are happy to work together on joint applications to define mutually interesting research topics.
Likewise, we are happy to work together with prospective postdoc applicants on competitive external funding schemes such as the Marie Curie postdoctoral fellowships.
All open positions with existing funding will be posted on the Job Portal, as well as several external websites.
Check out our thesis offer
Bachelor Thesis
Title: Preparation and Characterization of PSF-Based Mixed Matrix Membranes for gas Separation
Contact Person: Reza Sabouri
Details: Gas permeation measurements for different gases (N2, CH4, CO2, H2) will be performed to determine permeability and selectivity, and to compare pure PSF with MMMs. The work is designed to be experimentally straightforward, focusing on learning membrane casting, safe handling of materials, and standard characterization methods, while still allowing the student to understand how fillers can tune transport properties in gas separation membranes.
Title: Screening and Preparation of Bimetallic LDH Electrocatalysts for AEMWE Anodes
Contact Person: Lei Lei
Details: This project aims to screen and prepare high-performance bimetallic layered double hydroxide (LDH) electrocatalysts for the anodes of anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWE).
You will:
- Use the co-precipitation method to prepare two typical bimetallic LDH electrocatalysts (e.g. Ni-Fe and Ni-Cr), and adjust different metal ratios to find the optimal formulation
- Learn basic material characterization techniques (e.g. XRD, SEM, XPS) to understand the principle of different metal combinations: Ni provides basic active sites, while Fe/Cr doping optimizes the electronic structure, thereby regulating the adsorption capacity of key OER intermediates
- Compare the activity of different catalysts through electrochemical tests (LSV, CV), and complete the assembly and short-term stability testing of AEMWE single cells
The experimental process is clear and easy to follow. You will systematically master the core skills of electrocatalyst preparation and characterization, while producing solid performance comparison data, making this an excellent starting point for entering the field of water electrolysis.
Master Thesis
Title: PIM-1 Based (Mixed Matrix) Membranes with MOF/COF Fillers for Enhanced CO₂-Selective Gas Separation
Contact Person: Reza Sabouri
Details: This project focuses on tailoring polymer structure and polymer–filler interactions to improve gas separation performance in dense and mixed matrix membranes. The student will prepare membranes based on PIM-1, and, in a second step, selected functionalized PIM-1. These polymers will be combined with one or two chosen MOF/COF fillers to form MMMs, with an emphasis on achieving good dispersion and minimizing non-selective voids. Standard techniques such as FTIR, SEM, XRD and TGA.
Gas permeation experiments will be carried out for different gases (N2, CH4, CO2, H2) to quantify permeability, selectivity, and the effect of polymer type, functionalization, and filler loading. In addition to routine membrane fabrication and characterization, the student will compare different polymer matrices, investigate basic structure–property relationships, and, if time allows, perform simple studies on aging or plasticization behavior in PIM-1-based membranes.
Title: Rational Design of Ternary metals LDH Electrocatalysts with Synergistic Sites for Enhanced oxygen revolution reaction (OER) Performance in AEMWE
Contact Person: Lei Lei
Details: This project focuses on designing ternary Ni-Fe-Cr LDH electrocatalysts with synergistic metal sites to enhance the OER performance of AEMWE anodes.
You will:
- Design and prepare a series of ternary LDH catalysts, and systematically adjust metal ratios to optimize the electronic structure and surface chemical state
- Use techniques such as chemisorption (CO₂-TPD, O₂-TPD), physisorption (BET), and XPS to explore the correlation between surface acid-base sites, specific surface area, and OER intermediate adsorption energy, establishing a structure-activity relationship
- Develop an electrode preparation process compatible with the AEM system, integrate the catalyst into membrane electrode assemblies, and conduct over 200 hours of single-cell durability testing
The project emphasizes mechanism exploration and practical validation, with experimental content that balances depth and feasibility. The results will provide key data to support the large-scale application of water electrolysis technology.