General information
Organisation
The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.
Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.
The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
Reference
SL-DES-26-0128
Thesis topic details
Category
Engineering science
Thesis topics
Enhancing Faradaic Efficiency in Protonic Ceramic Electrolysis Cells (PCCELs) through Electrolyte and Electrode–Electrolyte Interface Engineering
Contract
Thèse
Job description
Proton conducting ceramic electrolysis cells (PCCELs), an advanced variant of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs), enable the direct production of hydrogen through steam electrolysis using proton-conducting electrolytes. Unlike conventional SOECs, which rely on oxygen ion (O²?) conductors, PCCELs operate at lower temperatures (~400–600?°C vs. 750–850?°C for SOECs) due to their higher proton conductivity. This lower operating temperature helps reduce material degradation and overall system costs. While SOEC technology has reached industrial maturity, with large-scale deployment projects underway, the development of PCCELs remains limited by several scientific challenges. These include the difficulty of densifying electrolytes (such as BaCeO3–BaZrO3) without barium volatilization during high-temperature sintering; the proton transport limitations posed by grain boundaries; and the poor control of electrode–electrolyte interfaces. This thesis aims to improve the faradaic efficiency of PCCELs by optimizing the microstructure of the electrolyte and engineering high-quality interfaces through targeted surface treatments. The methodology includes cell fabrication, interface engineering, and electrochemical evaluation. The ultimate goal is to establish robust and scalable processing protocols that enable PCCELs to achieve faradaic efficiencies above 95%, compatible with industrial-scale deployment.
University / doctoral school
Sciences Chimiques
Université de Strasbourg
Thesis topic location
Site
Grenoble
Requester
Position start date
01/10/2026
Person to be contacted by the applicant
CELIKBILEK AGNESE Ozden
ozden.celikbilek@cea.fr
CEA
DES/DTNM
0438785433
Tutor / Responsible thesis director
ZAFEIRATOS Spyridon
spiros.zafeiratos@unistra.fr
Université de Strasbourg
Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l'Energie, l'Environnement et la Santé
ICPEES-UMR 7515
CNRS-ECPM-Université de Strasbourg
25, rue Becquerel, F 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2
FRANCE
03 68 85 27 55
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