Applications are sought for a PhD project in the groups of Dr Phoebe Allan and Prof Peter Slater at the University of Birmingham in collaboration with Prof. Clare Grey at the University of Cambridge and Dr Maria Diaz-Lopez at Diamond Light Source, the UK’s synchrotron source. Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in our portable electronics, but to meet the demands of the automotive industry, developing materials with higher energy density and improved sustainability is critical. Current cathode materials rely on cation redox, where lithium removal is accompanied by the oxidation of a transition metal. Anions such as oxygen can also participate in redox reactions which can result in enhanced energy density, but these materials generally show poor cycle lives and large voltage hysteresis. The mechanisms behind these advantages and challenges are poorly understood.
The student will join the team in the CATMAT ‘Next Generation Lithium-Ion Cathode Materials’ project which is funded by the Faraday Institution, the UK’s battery research institute, encompassing eight universities and twelve industry partners. In this project, the student will use advanced characterisation methodologies such as 17-O NMR, pair distribution function analysis and x-ray adsorption spectroscopy to probe the structure of new cathode materials developed in the CATMAT project. This information will give valuable understanding of new materials for fundamental research and for companies working in this area.
The project will provide extensive training in a range of state-of-the-art research techniques, which are directly applicable to a career in academia or industry. The Faraday Institution Cluster PhD researchers receive an enhanced stipend over and above the standard EPSRC offer. The total annual stipend is approximately £20,000 (plus London weighting where applicable) plus an additional training and consumables package worth £7,000. Recipients will have access to multiple networking opportunities, industry visits, mentorship, internships, as well as quality experiences that will further develop knowledge, skills, and aspirations https://faraday.ac.uk/education-skills/phd-researchers/. There will be an opportunity for the student to undertake a placement with industrial partners as well as partaking in experiments at x-ray and neutron central facilities in the UK and abroad.
The University of Birmingham was founded in 1900 on an anti-discrimination ethos accepting men and women on an equal basis. Today, as a community of over 150 nationalities in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities, we remain committed to promoting equality, diversity and fairness irrespective of age, disability, gender, pregnancy or marital status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Faraday Institution is committed to creating a dynamic and diverse pool of talent for the fields of battery technology and energy storage.
Candidates should have or expect to receive a first or upper second (2.1) honours degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, physics, materials science or other related discipline. Familiarity with solid-state chemistry, NMR spectroscopy or x-ray diffraction would be an advantage.
In order to apply for this Faraday Institution PhD position, you need to do both of the following:
1. Complete a Faraday Institution expression of interest form (https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7ZVPYRB);
2. Make an application through the University of Birmingham’s online application system (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/chemistry/phd/phd.aspx).
Further information can be obtained by emailing Dr Phoebe Allan ([Email Address Removed]) or Professor Peter Slater ([Email Address Removed]).