Internship + Master Thesis (m/f/div)
Conducting Multiphysics Simulations (electrochemical-mechanical coupling) for new generation of Solid-State
Batteries
Solid-state batteries are at the forefront of next-generation energy storage, promising higher energy density, improved safety, and longer cycle life compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. Their unique architecture enables breakthroughs in electric mobility and grid-scale storage,
addressing critical challenges in sustainability and performance. Despite these advantages, the performance of solid-state batteries is often limited by mechanical degradation, such as crack formation in cathode materials during electrochemical cycling.
The underlying mechanisms of this mechanical failure remain poorly understood, posing a major challenge to the reliable design of future battery systems. To address this, we are seeking a motivated Master's student, ideally from a nearby university, to contribute to an ongoing project focused on advanced multiphysics simulations of solid-state batteries. The project centers on a mesoscale chemo-mechanical model, developed and
implemented in DAMASK, to investigate degradation phenomena in NMC-based cathodes. This model integrates electrochemical behavior, micromechanical response, and evolving microstructure to provide deeper insight into damage initiation and evolution.
Your role
- Conduct multiphysics simulations (electrochemical-mechanical coupling)
- Work with DAMASK & PETSc (https://damask-multiphysics.org/)
- Analyze stress, texture effects, dislocations, and degradation in battery materials
Your profile
- Registered for a Master's degree in Materials Science or related fields at a German Public University.
- Excellent background in materials physics, micromechanics, physics, or related fields
- Experienced in micromechanical computational modeling
- Proficient in written and oral English skills on scientific topics
- Experience with DAMASK and programming
Liu, C., Roters, F. &
Raabe, D. Role of grain-level chemo-mechanics in composite cathode degradation
of solid-state lithium batteries. Nat Commun 15, 7970
(2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52123-w
What we offer:
The department ‘Microstructure Physics and Alloy Design’ investigates the fundamentals of the relations between synthesis, microstructure and properties of often complex nanostructured materials. The focus lies on metallic alloys. We investigate the microstructures and properties using theory and advanced characterization methods from the single-atom level up to the macroscopic scale.
You will be supervised directly by Prof. Dierk Raabe and Dr. Chuanlai Liu and will be fully integrated into the welcoming and diverse research group.