Dr T Carruthers
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
Aerosol can strongly absorb and scatter light depending on their physico-chemical properties. Quantifying aerosol-light interaction is vital for evaluating the aerosol contribution to radiative forcing (warming and cooling effect) on the atmosphere that influences global warming. Aerosols age dynamically in response to a change in environment, such as relative humidity, and their composition, size, concentration, phase (solid, liquid, gel, glass, porous), and mixing state/structure (core-shell, porous) evolve. Crucially this changes the way in which each aerosol droplet or particle interacts with light. Microscopic and sub-microscopic aerosol can be characterised on an individual basis using highly focussed laser light. The light scattered by aerosol can reveal exquisite detail about their physico-chemical properties, such as by using Raman spectroscopy, scattered light measurements and comparison with Mie theory calculations. Measurements provide insight into the kinetics of uptake in porous structures, mixing and morphology, and surface tension. Aerosol particles with absorptive and porous properties, such as activated carbon, nanoferrites and titanium particles, will be explored to investigate mechanisms for potential air filtration and heavy particle removal from the atmosphere. This PhD will provide insight into aerosol dynamics and processes where potential routes of application lie in waste water treatment, removal of pollutants from the atmosphere and in understand the mechanism of adsorption and transmission of viruses/diseases. The successful applicant will be fully-trained in optical and spectroscopic analytical techniques at Newcastle University and physico-chemistry of foams and solid absorbents, design and fabrication of materials with unique structural properties at Northumbria University. Technical and other directly relevant training will be provided to equip the student with the skills necessary for all aspects of the project.
Funding Notes
Each of our studentship awards include 3.5 years of fees (Home/EU), an annual living allowance (£15,285) and a Research Training Support Grant (for travel, consumables, as required).
https://research.ncl.ac.uk/one-planet/howtoapply/
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