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This project aims to develop a novel method for the transformation of natural polymers (e.g., cellulose and chitosan) into valuable porous supports to manage the incorporation of plasmonic  nanophotocatalysts with the co-photocatalytic piezoelectric element (earth abundant ZnO) to strengthen the overall physicochemical properties of those hybrids. New catalytic materials possessing excellent piezophotocatalytic redox properties to assist continuous flow photo-redox processes in obtaining high-value chemicals from biomass-inspired compounds. The objective is to prepare metal-containing porous carbon-based piezophotocatalytic materials through the physicochemical effects of low/high-frequency sonication (e.g., effective mass transfer, microstreaming, cross-linked radical polymerization, etc, effects often inaccessible through conventional methods) as a promising approach to disruptively improve the outcomes of conventional methods (e.g, hydro(solvo)thermal, sol-gel method). It will be carried out the study of the physicochemical properties of the hybrid materials (before and after (sono)-(photo)-catalytic test reactions), and testing them in the selective redox sonophotocatalytic C-C and/or C-O sonophoto-reductive coupling of biomass-inspired model compounds (in flow liquid-phase) as a futuristic approach of organic waste valorisation. It will be carried out, a systematic basic research of the effect of green and unconventional source of ultrasonic energy on the synthesis of the hybrid materials, and its effect on the final optimisation of the synthesis method conditions. To get insight into the mechanism of ultrasound-assisted methods, the whole spectrum of materials characterization techniques,  basic kinetic studies and piezophotocatalysts’ stability/recycling studies (using the appropriate flow (sono)-(photo)-reactors) will be carried out. The use of ultrasound-based procedures offer a facile, versatile synthetic tool for the preparation of nanopiezophotocatalysts, often inaccessible through conventional methods.

Design/modeling of the methods for piezophotocatalysts' preparation, partially responsible for materials synthesis, their characterization and testing, results elaboration and discussion, help with the organization of the project scientific activities, publications/conferences preparation, bibliographical data searching/analysis.

Basic responsibilities are as follow:

• Scientific initiative and contribution through regular reporting and publishing, as well as presenting at group meetings, national and international conferences;
• Providing help and supervision to junior members of the group;
• Contribution to the efficient functioning of the lab, including necessary organizational tasks.

We offer a post-doctoral position (full-time employment) in the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS with a gross salary of around around 9.600,00 PLN gross/month h financed from the NCN OPUS-26 Project No. UMO-2023/51/B/ST5/00752.  International cooperation with experienced researchers. Autonomous  position in the professional and dynamically developing innovative team. The successful candidate is expected to start work within the project: the earliest 01.10.2024, the latest 02.01.2025. 100% of the work time of the postdoc researcher will be devoted to the realization of the proposed project.

The successful candidate will benefit in form of new knowledge and methods added to his/her toolbox. The project deals with photocatalysis, piezocatalysis, sonochemistry, flow reactors, nanomaterials, and physical chemistry phenomena in general, so any profile of candidate will find some new knowledge to be gained upon realization of the project.

We plan to publish the results of the work in high impact factor journals.

The successful candidate will be able to take advantage of all programs in the IPC PAS, including Young Scientists of IPC PAS competition and Mobility of Young Scientists of IPC PAS competition.

Institute provides an opportunity to participate in ERASMUS+ programme.

1. PhD degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, catalysis sciences, obtained no earlier than 7 years before the starting year of the employment in the project (this period might be longer due to family reasons (according to NCN rules).
2. Publication record and rich (mobility) scientific experience.
3. Ability to work independently as well as in a group.
4. Significant research achievements in carbonbased photocatalysis (materials synthesis and characterization) and plasmonic photocatalysis, nanostructured multidimensional materials synthesis, organic chemistry synthesis in particular redox processes, sonochemistry.
5. Familiar with heterogeneous catalysts.’ characterization techniques such as: microscopic imaging (SEM and HRTEM), XPS, XRD, chemisorption techniques, DR UV-Vis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, photoluminescence as well as AFM/STM, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Moreover, experience is desired in sonochemistry and flow reactors design/modeling.
6. Ability to communicate fluently in English (written and spoken).
7. Strong motivation to work and pursue scientific questions, creativity, and analytical thinking.
8. Research experience in related fields will be advantageous.
9. Experience in leveraging best practices from research community;
10. Experience in supervising and teaching students.

The Commission will take into account the following criteria:

• competencies of candidates for specific tasks in a research project, (max 70 points),
• previous scientific achievements of candidates, (max  20 points),
• awards and distinctions of the candidate resulting from the conducted research, (max  5 points).
• presented opinions via. recommendation letters, (max  5 points).

The commission evaluates applications on a point scale.