Metal oxides, sulphides, selenides and tellurides have routinely been investigated and utilised for a wide range of applications, in particular in the areas of energy (photovoltaic, thermoelectric) and catalysis (thermocatalysis, electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis). A recent development in this chemical space is high entropy and entropy-stabilised inorganic materials which took inspiration from preceding work on high entropy metal alloys (multicomponent alloys). High entropy inorganic materials typically have many (often ≥4) different cations or anions to yield a high configurational entropy, which can give unexpected structures and properties that are conducive to a broad range of applications in energy and catalysis, as well as conferring increased chemical stability to these systems. More recently still, high entropy metal chalcogenides have been developed and have been investigated for thermoelectric energy generation, batteries for energy storage and electrocatalysis.
We have recently made some breakthroughs in this area with the discovery of a new molecular precursor route to high entropy crystals as bulk materials (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021 DOI: and as quantum dots (Nano Lett 2022, DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01596). The latter is extremely interesting as it offers the opportunity to combine the emergent properties of high entropy materials with the emergent properties at the nanoscale. In this project we will (i) expand the families of quantum dots available, measuring their physical properties as a function of elemental make up and of length scale and (ii) exploring the idea of new core-shell materials where technologically important quantum dot materials (e.g. CdS, CdSe, CdTe) are synthesized with a high entropy shell to confer improved surface stability to the materials resulting in improvement in properties e.g. photoluminescence quantum yield and lifetime, and robustness/stability as well as exploring opportunities for multiple exciton generation (MEG).
At the University of Manchester, we pride ourselves on our commitment to fairness, inclusion and respect in everything we do. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities, and encourage you to bring your whole self to work and study. We will ensure that your application is given full consideration without regard to your race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, marital or pregnancy status, or socioeconomic background. All PhD places will be awarded on the basis of merit.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact [Email Address Removed]
Applicants should have or expect to achieve at least a 2.1 honours degree Chemistry
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