Electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels: factors controlling efficiency

The project will explore electrocatalysts that can be used for the production of chemical fuels from CO2. The approach has the potential to offer a sustainable route to carbon based fuels. However to realise this goal either new catalysts or approaches for the reduction of CO2 to products such as CO, CH3OH, CH4 are required.

This project will use vibrational spectroscopy to study the surface of electrodes for CO2 reduction under operating conditions. The aim is to identify the optimal operating conditions (solvents, temperatures) and catalysts. The student will work closely with a synthetic programme that will utilise the design rules developed to deliver new materials. To achieve these goals the successful student will use a recently developed sum-frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG) experiment at Liverpool which we have shown to be a powerful tool to study surface mechanisms (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139(39), 13791-13797 and Nature Catalysis 2018, 1, 952-959).
Applications are encouraged from highly motivated candidates who have, or expect to have, at least a 2:1 degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Materials of Physics.

The post is open to EU/UK candidates and provides full tuition fees and a stipend at UKRI standard rates (currently £14,777 p.a.). Some teaching duties may be required to be carried out during the PhD studentship. Applications should be made as soon as possible. Informal enquiries are also encouraged and should be addressed to [Email Address Removed]

Please note this position will close once a suitable candidate is found.