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PhD position on gaseous hydrogen uptake in pipel ... (No replies)
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A fully funded PhD position is available at IFP Energies nouvelles (France)
Exploring gaseous hydrogen uptake in pipeline steel using a combined experimental-theoretical approach: the importance of surface state
In the context of combatting climate change, hydrogen can play a key role as an energy vector in diminishing CO2 emissions if produced from renewable sources. For its storage, one viable option is to store hydrogen under high-pressure, high-strength vessels in its molecular (H2) form. However, storing hydrogen gas in steel pressure vessels/pipelines runs the risk of hydrogen embrittlement and dangerous failures. The physical chemistry of hydrogen entry processes – the first steps prior to letting “externally produced” atomic hydrogen occupy precarious positions in the matrix– are far-ranging. Low carbon pipeline steels are covered with iron oxides and the role of iron oxides against hydrogen entry is dismissed as protective. Yet, this judgement remains questionable in the light of assuring integrity of these high-pressure hydrogen-filled gas pipelines for decades to come. It is therefore essential to explore in greater detail the mechanism how hydrogen interacts, adsorbs on the iron oxide interface and diffuses into the surface sublayer.
In the proposed PhD study, the interaction of hydrogen and iron oxide will be studied both experimentally and using molecular simulations. Surface analysis techniques like LEED/STM/XPS will be performed on a bare iron oxide grown on an iron crystal as well after hydrogen dosages, whereas ToF-SIMS will be employed to analyse the quantity of penetrated hydrogen. Additionally, the impact of contaminants like H2S on the hydrogen uptake will be investigated.
A mechanistic molecular modelling study based on density functional theory will closely accompany the experimental effort which describes, both thermodynamically and kinetically, the processes of hydrogen adsorption and absorption into the subsurface.
This 3-years PhD position is available at IFP Energies nouvelles and is in close collaboration with the PCS group of the Institute de Recherche de Chimie Paris, ENSCP, CNRS, PSL Research University.
For more information, please contact Theodorus DE BRUIN, Gaurav JOSHI or Dimitri MERCIER by email.
Academic supervisor
Dr. Dimitri MERCIER: dimitri.mercier-at-chimieparistech.psl.eu
Dr. Philippe MARCUS: philippe.marcus-at-chimieparistech.psl.eu
Dr. Dominique COSTA: dominique.cost-at-chimieparistech.psl.eu
Doctoral School
ED 388, Chimie Physique et Chimie Analytique de Paris-Centre, http://ed388.sorbonne-universite.fr/fr/index.html
IFPEN supervisors
Dr. Theodorus DE BRUIN: theodorus.de-bruin-at-ifpen.fr
Dr. Gaurav JOSHI: gaurav.josh-at-ifpen.fr
PhD location
Paris/Rueil-Malmaison (France)
Duration and start date
3 years, starting date before the end of 2022
Employer
IFP Energies nouvelles
Academic requirements
Master’s degree in physics, chemistry, surface chemistry, spectroscopy, or theoretical chemistry
Language requirements
Fluency in English (willingness to learn French)
Other requirements
Ready to work with surface analysis techniques and molecular simulation techniques