Postdoc Materials Development for Optical Hydrogen Sensing

Would you like to develop (materials for) hydrogen sensors that can the quantify the hydrogen concentration inside an electrolyser? 

Job description 

Hydrogen is projected to be a major energy carrier in the future. Unfortunately, the use of hydrogen comes with a safety hazard as mixtures of hydrogen and air are, under certain conditions, flammable or even explosive. On top of that, even a tiny leakage of hydrogen, being a severe greenhouse gas, can contribute significantly to global warming. While hydrogen sensors exist nowadays, these sensors are not suited for all applications or have severe disadvantages.

Optical hydrogen sensors feature distinct advantages with respect to present-day technology. They can be made small, cheap and are intrinsically safe. The heart of these sensors is a metal hydride sensing layer of about 10 nm providing the optical signal. Upon exposure to hydrogen, the metal hydride will absorb hydrogen, which changes it’s optical properties. By measuring e.g. the transmission of the light, the hydrogen concentration can then be determined.

While optical hydrogen sensing materials have proven conceptually to work under ideal conditions (i.e. in chemically inert environments), the presence of humidity or species such as oxygen and KOH pose challenges and prevent these sensors from being used inside an electrolyser. The goal of this project is synthesize, characterize and functionally test hydrogen sensing materials to environments that mimic the environment inside an electrolyser. Once suitable candidate materials have been identified, these materials can be deposited on optical fibers and a real fiber-sensor can be tested. Eventually, the aim is to develop hydrogen sensors that can operate in the challenging environments of an electrolyzer, enabling higher conversion efficiency, predicitve maintanance and lower costs.

As a postdoc, you will perform the following. First, materials will be synthesized, mainly using magnetron sputtering. Then, the materials will be tested under conditions relevant to the application to determine their performance as hydrogens sensors. Besides, additional material characterisation with techniques such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray and neutron reflectometry and X-ray photoemesion spectroscopy will be used to provide a fundamental understanding of the interaction of hydrogen, humidity and other species with the materials. This project will be a true team effort, involving Research technicians, Scientific staff, and Expert advice from companies/research institutes relevant to the research.

The supervision of the project will be carried out by Lars Bannenberg. Questions can be addressed to Lars Bannenberg and more information can be found on hydrogensensing.nl.

Tasks:

• Synthesize hydrogen sensing materials and protective coatings using physical vapor deposition (magnetron sputtering).
• Characterization of optical performance of the hydrogen sensing materials when exposed to hydrogen containing environments, both on substrates and optical fibers. This will mostly be done in our lab, but can also be performed at the facility of a partner within the project.
• Perform advanced material characterization with techniques such as Neutron and X-ray reflectometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction.
• Write academic papers, progress reports and deliver presentations in which you communicate your experimental results.

Job requirements 

You would be our ideal candidate if you are/have:

• PhD in the field of (applied), physics, chemistry, (fibre)optics, material science or a related subject.
• Good command of the English language in both speaking and writing. Speaking Dutch or willingness to learn is a pre.
• Experience and knowledge of (fibre) optics is a pre
• Demonstrated excellent experimental and analytical skills
• Basic command of programming (Python).
• Knowledge of thin film deposition and characterization techniques is a pre.
• Good communication skills
• Able to work both in a team as well as individually.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) 

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. 

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Applied Sciences 

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers. 

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences. 

Conditions of employment 

• Duration of contract is 2 years Temporary
• A job of 38 hours per week. 
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP. 
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year. 
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages. 
• Flexible working week. 
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget. 
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses. 
• Partially paid parental leave 
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program. 

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.  . 

Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Lars Bannenberg (responsible supervisor), email:  l.bannenberg@tudelft.nl or Antonia Denkova, e-mail: a.g.denkova@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 4 January 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to Lars Bannenberg (responsible supervisor).

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.