PhD Position in Circular Silicon and Silicon Carbide for Additive Manufacturing

This fully funded PhD position at the University of Twente focuses on advancing circular production methods for silicon and silicon carbide, critical materials for high-performance applications. The project integrates materials science, powder technology, additive manufacturing, and data science to address waste in the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries. You will optimize mechanochemical processes to convert silicon-rich waste streams into high-purity powders, then establish additive manufacturing techniques for these materials. A key innovation is the development of machine-learning models to predict material properties, enabling faster feedstock qualification and improved sustainability. The interdisciplinary environment includes academic researchers and industrial partners, offering opportunities for high-impact research and technology transfer.

• Develop and optimize mechanochemical routes to convert silicon-rich waste streams into high-purity powders for advanced manufacturing.
• Investigate phase formation, particle size distribution, morphology, and flowability of recycled powders using advanced characterization techniques.
• Establish process windows for additive manufacturing of silicon and silicon carbide using binder-free and binder-based approaches.
• Investigate melt behavior, densification, defect formation, and microstructure in manufactured components.
• Collaborate with Saxion University of Applied Sciences to develop machine-learning models linking powder characteristics and process parameters to final component properties.
• Publish high-impact research and contribute to technologies with immediate industrial relevance and sustainability impact.
• Work in an interdisciplinary and international research environment with academic and industrial partners.