PhD position: PFAS-free proton-conducting membranes for electrolysers

PhD position: PFAS-free proton-conducting membranes for electrolysers

Research question and project fit

Can a PFAS-free MOF/polymer membrane combine useful proton transport with stability and performance in an electrolyser? This Leiden PhD connects electrochemistry, membrane chemistry and materials measurement. The research target is a defensible structure–transport–performance relationship, rather than an already demonstrated replacement for a commercial membrane. The saved recruitment describes up to four years of employment, an initial 12 months followed by 3 years on satisfactory performance, and EUR 3,204–4,051 gross per month. Present availability and the full submission instructions remain unresolved.

The opportunity is attractive because it targets a real bottleneck: current proton-exchange membranes often rely on fluorinated materials, while PFAS regulatory pressure and clean-hydrogen deployment both make non-fluorinated membrane research valuable. The main caution is technical maturity. Combining proton-conductive MOFs and polymers into high-performance membranes is a research target, not a demonstrated outcome. The application should be treated as a materials discovery and measurement project rather than a near-commercial membrane-development role.

For China/non-EU applicants, no nationality exclusion was found. The key gates are a relevant MSc, experimental background in at least one of electrochemistry, membrane chemistry, MOF synthesis or materials characterization, excellent written and spoken English, and timely residence/work documentation. The public vacancy does not specify English-test thresholds or Chinese degree-equivalence handling, so those need direct confirmation.

Research work and feasibility

The student will combine proton-conductive MOFs and polymers, investigate how molecular structure, composition and membrane architecture affect transport, and test materials in different electrolyser configurations. MOF synthesis/characterisation, physical measurements and electrolysis studies are advertised activities. Specific materials and operating conditions are not fixed.

A central question is whether a conductivity improvement survives the trade-offs with selectivity, swelling, mechanical/chemical stability and device performance. Existing synthesis/electrochemistry facilities support the work; unconventional nanofabrication and ion-transport setups are to be developed with workshop support. Instrument construction and materials interpretation therefore both need a feasible scope.

School, Programme, and Location Signal

Leiden University is a solid host for this project because the Leiden Institute of Chemistry is organised around Chemical Biology and Energy & Sustainability, and the Faculty of Science highlights state-of-the-art laboratories and a location in Leiden Bio Science Park (Leiden Institute of Chemistry; Faculty of Science). That local environment matters more than a broad university ranking because the project depends on chemistry facilities, electrochemical expertise and materials-characterisation support.

Leiden's own ranking page is unusually careful: it states that rankings have limited value and encourages readers to look beyond league tables (Leiden rankings page). That is useful here. The institution has strong research visibility, but the applicant decision should rest mainly on the Leiden Institute of Chemistry, the Hetterscheid group, and the exact project plan.

The Faculty of Science page also notes Leiden Bio Science Park and connections between university and business life. That is relevant for applied membrane and sustainable-chemistry work, but it does not by itself guarantee industrial placement, IP freedom or access to a specific company project.

Supervisor and Lab Assessment

Supervisor Research Directions

Dennis Hetterscheid is an associate professor at Leiden with official profile keywords including electrochemistry, homogeneous catalysis, redox catalysis, small molecule activation, solar fuels and synthesis. His profile states that his research bridges the Catalysis & Surface Chemistry and Metals in Catalysis, Biomimetics & Inorganic Materials groups, and lists contact details and representative recent publications (Dennis Hetterscheid profile). The Hetterscheid Group describes itself as working on molecular complexes for electrocatalysis and future energy infrastructure (Hetterscheid Group).

This is a good fit for the electrochemical side of the PhD. The caveat is that the supervisor's core public record is stronger in molecular electrocatalysis and mechanism than in industrial membrane engineering. That is not disqualifying, because the vacancy explicitly frames the PhD as interdisciplinary, but it makes the project plan and any membrane/polymer collaborators important verification points.

Publication evidence and its limits

The saved publication summaries do not verify a complete byline or contribution audit, or a full-paper methods review. The 2025 MOF-confinement paper is a review; the 2023 electrocatalysis papers are distinct evidence on related chemistry. None establishes a finished PFAS-free membrane device.

MOF confinement and transport: 2025 review

The most directly relevant recent lab publication is the 2025 ChemSusChem review on MOF-induced confinement effects in molecular electrocatalysis. It discusses MOFs, electrocatalysts, mass transport and electron transport, all of which are close to the logic of designing proton-conductive MOF/polymer membranes (ChemSusChem MOF confinement review). Its limitation is that it is not a membrane paper; it supports the MOF/electrochemical reasoning rather than proving membrane-device expertise.

Water oxidation and reduction mechanisms: 2023 studies

The 2023 JACS paper on electronic structure and water oxidation catalysis supports Hetterscheid's mechanistic energy-electrocatalysis profile (JACS water oxidation paper). Two 2023 ACS Catalysis papers on nitrite reduction and oxygen reduction show a similar strength in electrochemical mechanism and selectivity (ACS Catalysis nitrite reduction paper; ACS Catalysis oxygen reduction paper). These are not membrane-specific, but they support the supervisor's ability to train rigorous electrochemical measurement and mechanistic interpretation.

Lab, Resources, and Collaboration Environment

The project description verifies access to a state-of-the-art electrochemistry laboratory, synthesis facilities, preparation and measurement facilities, and support from mechanical and electronic workshops. It also states that unconventional nanofabrication equipment and ion-transport experimental setups will be designed with workshop support. That distinction matters: the former are existing or general facilities; the latter are part of the research build-out and should not be described as already fully available equipment.

The project also mentions local and international collaborations and industry partners. That can be positive for translation, but it raises questions about IP, data sharing and publication boundaries that should be clarified before relying on the industry link as a career guarantee.

Research Direction and Field Outlook

Field Momentum

The research direction has strong external motivation. PFAS policy pressure is increasing in Europe, and both ECHA and the European Commission document ongoing concern over PFAS restriction and substitution (ECHA PFAS topic; European Commission PFAS pollution). OECD's fluoropolymer lifecycle report adds a broader materials-lifecycle perspective on fluoropolymers and emissions (OECD fluoropolymers report).

At the same time, hydrogen and electrolysis remain active innovation areas. The IEA's Global Hydrogen Review tracks hydrogen production, demand, policy, investment and innovation, which gives market context for electrolyser materials research (IEA Global Hydrogen Review 2024). The thesis topic sits in the tension between clean-energy deployment and chemical-safety pressure: alternatives must reduce fluorinated-material dependence without sacrificing performance.

Potential Research Angles

The strongest scientific angle is to connect molecular design to measurable membrane performance. Useful thesis questions include: how MOF pore chemistry and polymer matrix chemistry create proton-transport pathways; how membrane architecture affects conductivity, selectivity and durability; how water uptake, swelling and mechanical stability trade off against conductivity; and how membrane results change under different electrolyser configurations.

Recent field reviews and examples show that proton-conducting MOF membranes and MOF-polymer PEMs are active research areas, but they also show why the problem is hard (proton-conducting MOF membrane review; MOF nanofiber composite PEM paper; MOF-doped PEM structure-property paper). Conductivity alone will not be enough. The project needs credible durability, chemical stability, gas crossover and device-testing criteria.

Career and Market Outlook

The career-market signal is positive for candidates who build transferable experimental and analytical skills. Possible routes include electrochemical energy research, hydrogen/electrolyser materials, membrane and separation technology, sustainable chemistry, chemical-industry R&D, materials characterization and academic postdoctoral work. The market value will depend on practical evidence: reproducible synthesis, electrochemical measurements, membrane characterization, device testing, and an ability to explain performance trade-offs to both chemists and engineers.

The policy and industry context is favourable, but the project is still research-stage. A strong career profile would avoid claiming a finished PFAS-free replacement and instead show design principles, validated measurements and honest durability limits.

Funding, Application, and Living Cost

The position is a salaried PhD employee role for up to four years, with a 12-month initial contract extendable for three years upon satisfactory performance. The salary is €3,204–€4,051 gross per month based on 38 hours/week, plus 8% holiday allowance, 8.3% end-of-year bonus, ABP pension, full public-transport commuting reimbursement and leave/flexible-working options. Leiden's general working-conditions page confirms the university's application-process steps and benefits context (Leiden working conditions).

For international staff, Leiden's Service Centre International Staff says it supports residence permits, housing, insurance and tax matters (Leiden SCIS). The IND researcher-permit page is relevant for Chinese/non-EU candidates because it covers doctoral candidates and states that the employer applies, while degree suitability, research agreement/employment and sufficient income are part of the requirements (IND researcher permit). Leiden International Centre provides regional residence/work permit context (Leiden International Centre permits).

Living costs need careful handling. Study in NL gives a broad student-cost benchmark of €1,000–€1,500 per month and notes housing as a large component, but a salaried employee will also face tax, health insurance and housing deposits (Study in NL cost of living). These student references do not establish a personal employee budget. Net pay, health insurance, actual rent, deposits and relocation costs must be assessed before inferring affordability or savings.

Applicant Fit and Preparation

Best suited for

The best-fit profile is an MSc graduate in physical chemistry, chemistry, materials science or a related field with hands-on experimental experience. A strong candidate can point to electrochemistry, membrane chemistry, MOF synthesis or materials characterization, and can explain how molecular structure affects transport or performance. Publications are advantageous but not a stated hard requirement.

May need caution if

Applicants should be cautious if they have mostly computational, policy or broad sustainability experience without experimental materials work. The project likely requires wet-lab synthesis, electrochemical measurements, membrane preparation, troubleshooting and equipment development. Candidates should also be cautious if they need a fully mature industrial platform; the project description includes equipment/setup design as part of the work.

For Chinese applicants, the public vacancy requires excellent written and spoken English but does not specify IELTS/TOEFL/Cambridge thresholds. Degree recognition, English evidence and document legalisation should be confirmed with Leiden before assuming the application package is complete.

Skills and evidence to strengthen

Useful preparation includes electrochemical methods, impedance spectroscopy or ion-transport measurements, MOF synthesis, polymer/membrane chemistry, materials characterization, electrolyser testing, and scientific writing. The existing report suggests a motivation letter, detailed CV, Master's courses/grades and at least two references. The retained recruitment capture cuts off at the application section, so this list and reference count are not independently confirmed as the complete current requirements. Check the linked vacancy system before submission.

Risks and Questions to Verify

High-priority questions

1. What is the expected start date?
2. Which MOF families, proton-conductive polymers and electrolyser configurations are initial targets?
3. Which facilities already exist, and which nanofabrication or ion-transport setups must be designed during the PhD?
4. What are the explicit 12-month extension criteria?
5. Will there be a co-supervisor or close collaborator with membrane/polymer expertise?
6. What English-test or document legalisation requirements apply to Chinese MSc degrees?
7. Which Dutch residence/work permit route will Leiden use for a Chinese salaried PhD employee?
8. What IP and publication constraints apply through industry partners?

Medium-priority questions

1. How much classroom teaching is expected within its 10% cap, and what separate BSc/MSc project supervision is required?
2. What durability, conductivity and electrolyser-performance benchmarks will define success?
3. Will the project prioritise acidic PEM-like operation, alkaline operation, or multiple electrolyser configurations?
4. Are there shared facilities for membrane casting, thickness control, gas crossover, tensile/mechanical testing and long-term stability tests?
5. How often will progress be reviewed in the first 12 months?

Evidence and Sources

The saved EURAXESS record lists 20 November 2026 at 22:59 UTC and also displays STATUS:EXPIRED; the application section is incomplete. These details conflict, so the saved material does not establish current acceptance. Confirm the status and complete submission requirements with Leiden. The project scope and employment terms below come from the saved recruitment description; the policy, cost and publication context uses saved sources and has not been checked for changes.

This dossier uses the saved recruitment page as project evidence and visible citations from Leiden University, the Hetterscheid Group, publisher pages, Dutch immigration sources, Study in NL, ECHA, the European Commission, OECD and IEA. The most decision-critical evidence is the recruitment text for salary/application/project scope, Leiden's official supervisor and institute pages, the 2025 MOF confinement review, field evidence on proton-conducting MOF membranes, and immigration/cost pages for China/non-EU feasibility.