Sodium-ion batteries for electrification of society: Cradle to grave
Funded PhD position in Chemical and Materials Engineering
Last updated: August 5, 2025, 11:49 a.m.
Supervisory details
Supervisor: Marc-Antoni Goulet
Department: Chemical and Materials Engineering, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science
University: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Start date: Winter 2026 (January), Summer 2026 (May)
PhD Fellowship: 35K CAD per year for 4 years
Project overview
This project advances sodium-ion batteries as a safer, low-cost, and sustainable alternative to lithium-ion technology. It addresses technical, environmental, and social barriers through four focus areas: enhancing cell performance, optimizing pack design, developing scalable recycling methods, and assessing sustainability using circularity and equity frameworks. Led by a multidisciplinary team, the project aims to support policymakers, industry, and communities in adopting sodium-ion batteries as a clean, resilient, and equitable energy storage solution for Canada’s electrification and decarbonization goals.
Role description
Task A: Impurity Removal from Black Mass
- Design and execute acid leaching and electrochemical methods for selective metal extraction from black mass
- Compare hydrometallurgical vs. electrochemical pathways for removing impurities such as Pb, Al, and Co
- Optimize conditions for efficiency, selectivity, and environmental impact of each extraction process
- Conduct experiments with both synthetic mixtures and real-world black mass samples from recycled batteries
- Analyze how different electro/chemical parameters influence impurity removal outcomes
- Build a framework for evaluating material separation trade-offs in battery recycling
- Contribute to the development of cleaner and safer recycling routes for sodium-ion battery materials
Task B: Process Optimization and Scale-Up Evaluation
- Develop and test continuous flow electrochemical processes for black mass purification
- Model and simulate slurry-based electrochemical systems to evaluate flow, conductivity, and separation efficiency
- Design and optimize electrochemical flow cells for target-specific impurity removal
- Conduct pilot-scale experiments to assess scalability of continuous black mass purification
- Investigate multi-stage purification routes for various metal contaminants in mixed battery chemistries
- Apply flow battery and slurry handling principles to electrochemical recycling of sodium-ion battery components
- Generate design guidelines for industrial-scale purification systems using conductive slurry suspensions
Research areas
- Flow batteries
- Fuel cells
- Electrosynthesis
- Electrochemical sensors
- Electrochemistry fundamentals
Requirements
- Master’s degree in physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, electrochemistry, or a closely related field
- Experience with electrochemical processes, metal recovery, or hydrometallurgy
- Strong hands-on skills in laboratory electrochemistry or materials processing
- Proficiency in tools such as potentiostats, chemical reactors, and analytical techniques (ICP, XRD, SEM, etc.)
- Demonstrated experimental experience with electrochemical flow cells (fuel cells, flow batteries, electrosynthesis reactors, etc) or with metal ion batteries is a strong asset
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; comfort working with interdisciplinary teams and industry partners
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
- Fully funded PhD positions with a competitive annual stipend and additional funding for conference travel, publishing, and industry collaboration
- The opportunity to work on a nationally significant project focused on developing scalable, low-impact recycling processes for sodium-ion batteries
- Hands-on training in advanced electrochemical methods, hydrometallurgical processes, and continuous flow electrochemical systems
- Access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for electrochemical testing, materials characterization (ICP, SEM, XRD, XPS), and pilot-scale experiments
- A unique chance to contribute to the development of cleaner, safer, and circular battery technologies for Canada’s electrification goals
- Structured mentorship from Professor Goulet and his team, with opportunities to publish in high-impact journals and present at top international conferences
- A dynamic and supportive research environment at Concordia University in Montreal, a recognized leader in electrochemical research and sustainability innovation
Please combine the following documents into a single PDF file.
- Letter of intent strongly aligned with the project and the research domain of the professor
- Academic CV
- Transcripts
- Names and contact information of 3 referees
- Publications if any
- Any other documents that might benefit your file
If you are already in Canada, or if you’re a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident, please highlight this in your communications.
Send your PDF file to volt-age.recruitment@concordia.ca with the subject Sodium-ion batteries_Your name.
Deadline: August 15, 2025
Questions/contact
For all questions, please contact Alisa Makusheva at alisa.makusheva@concordia.ca.