Context:

The rapid advancement of Na-ion battery (NIB) technology presents promising opportunities for energy storage, with commercial cells already deployed in electric vehicles. However, key challenges remain in understanding their performance, ageing mechanisms, and safety. To address these issues, innovative sensing technologies are required to monitor and analyze degradation processes in real time.

While reference electrodes have been successfully developed for Li-ion batteries, no reliable, high-performance, and stable solution currently exists for Na-ion systems. This postdoctoral position is part of a cutting-edge project aimed at designing and validating a novel reference electrode sensor specifically for Na-ion batteries, enabling precise in situ and operando characterization.

Research Objectives & Candidate Role:

The successful candidate will focus on:

· Developing and implementing in situ and operando characterization techniques for Na-ion batteries.

· Designing a reliable electrochemical sensor as reference electrode for internal cell measurements based on the active particles synthesized within the project.

· Instrumenting battery cells, conducting cycling tests under various conditions, and analyzing performance and ageing mechanisms through electrode profiles that will be provided by the sensor.

· Performing data analysis and post-mortem examinations (SEM, EDX, ICP, etc.) to correlate the sensor measurements with degradation phenomena.

This position is embedded within a multidisciplinary team of electrochemists, physicists, chemists, and optical physicists. The candidate will collaborate closely with the LEDNA (IRAMIS) at CEA Saclay in charge of the synthesis of materials used to create the reference electrode sensor. The ultimate goal is to test new materials and elaborate a new reference electrode sensor. This new sensor will be inserted in cells to evaluate its stability along time to select the best candidate.

Ageing test on instrumented cells with this new sensor will be used to evaluate the capability of the sensor to monitor the performances and ageing mechanisms of the reference electrodes for Na-ion cells.

The research will be conducted at the Electrochemical, Post-Mortem & Safety Analysis Laboratory (LAPS) at CEA Grenoble, a leading institution in energy storage research.  The LAPS is a part of the department of electromobility storage department (DEHT) at CEA-LITEN Grenoble. The work will be in collaboration with the LEDNA (IRAMIS) at CEA Saclay in charge of the synthesis of materials used to create the reference electrode sensor.

Academic & Technical Qualifications:

- PhD in Electrochemistry, Materials Science, or a related field, with a strong background in battery research.

- Proven expertise in experimental electrochemistry, including cell fabrication, testing, and characterization.

-  Experience in sodium-ion batteries is a plus.

-  Strong analytical skills for data interpretation and post-mortem analysis.

-  Ability to lead research projects, publish in high-impact journals, and present findings at conferences.

Soft Skills:

- Strong teamwork and collaboration abilities in a multidisciplinary environment.

- Methodical, rigorous, and autonomous approach to research.

- Very good written and verbal communication skills in English.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

A cover letter detailing research experience and motivation.

A detailed CV, including a list of publications.

Location: CEA Grenoble, France

Start Date: 01/06/2026

CEA is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages applications from diverse backgrounds.