Postdoctoral Researcher in Mechanochemical Hydrogen Storage (NaBH4)

Postdoctoral Researcher in Mechanochemical Hydrogen Storage (NaBH4)

UvA - University of Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Netherlands

€ 3,546 - € 5,538 per month

Are you excited by the challenge of developing next-generation hydrogen storage materials through cutting-edge inorganic chemistry? Do you enjoy working at the frontier of mechanochemistry, solid-state reactivity, and sustainable energy systems? Are you curious about how chemistry can enable circular hydrogen carriers and scalable energy storage solutions? Then this role will be an exciting and impactful next step in your career.

Join our team!

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher who will play a central role in a project on sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a circular hydrogen carrier, within the collaboration with H2fuel and HydroFlexx. The project focuses on the mechanochemical synthesis and regeneration of NaBH4 via ball milling under hydrogen pressure, as a scalable and sustainable alternative to conventional high-energy processes.

You will work in the Slootweg Group at the Van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences (HIMS), contributing to the development of closed-loop hydrogen storage systems based on borohydrides. The project builds on recent advances demonstrating that mechanochemistry enables high-yield regeneration of NaBH4 from borate waste under solvent-free conditions, opening a disruptive pathway toward circular hydrogen storage.

This position offers a unique opportunity to combine inorganic synthesis, mechanochemistry, hydrogen technology, and process development into a next-generation platform for sustainable energy storage.

This is what you are going to do

• Develop and optimize mechanochemical routes for the synthesis and regeneration of NaBH4 using ball milling under H₂ pressure;
• Investigate solid-state reaction mechanisms and parameter dependencies (e.g. milling conditions, hydride sources, pressure, temperature);
• Design and perform experiments on borohydride formation from borates and related precursors;
• Characterize materials using spectroscopic and analytical techniques (e.g. NMR, IR, XRD);
• Contribute to scaling strategies and integration into circular hydrogen storage cycles, in collaboration with project partners.

This is what we ask of you

• When working on complex experimental systems, you structure your work and connect mechanistic insight to process-level performance;
• You collaborate effectively and communicate clearly with researchers across chemistry, engineering, and application domains;
• You take initiative in developing and troubleshooting experimental setups, including high-pressure and solid-state systems;
• A PhD (working and thinking level) in inorganic chemistry or a closely related field;
• Strong experience in inorganic or main-group chemistry, including air-sensitive techniques;
• Hands-on experience with solid-state synthesis, mechanochemistry, or hydrogen-related materials is highly valued;
• Experience with spectroscopic or structural characterization techniques (e.g. NMR, XRD);
• Familiarity with high-pressure systems, metal hydrides, or energy materials is beneficial.