PhD in “Super hydrophobic aerogels for environmental applications”

A PhD position is available in the field of Materials Chemistry. This project is in competition with other projects offered by the School of Physical Sciences for one of a number of Vice Chancellor’s PhD Studentships.

Polluted waters and oil spillage seriously affect communities around the world. Large oil spillages causing major disasters attract a lot of media attention but even smaller and sometimes chronic accidents that go mostly unnoticed have a lasting effect on the whole ecosystem.

This project will develop sponge like materials with optimised sorption capacity, that can then be recovered and re-used for cost-effectiveness. For these characteristics to be achieved the following properties will be combined in a single nanocomposite material: the very high porosity of aerogels (the lightest materials ever made with up to 98% of their total volume being air, hence the name), the super-hydrophobic and oleophilic character of carbon nanostructures (such as graphene and buckypaper), and the magnetic properties of nanoparticles.

The synthesised nanocomposites will be characterised using a multi-technique approach involving powder X-ray diffraction, N2 physisorption at 77 K, electron microscopy , thermal analysis techniques, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, Contact Angle measurements and SQUID magnetometry. You will receive full training on most of these techniques, gaining a deep knowledge of the morphology, structure and properties of these nanocomposites. The project involves an international collaboration with the University of Cagliari and research visits may be possible through an existing Erasmus programme agreement.
The successful candidate will be based at the University of Kent’s main campus in Canterbury as part of the Functional Materials Group, and work under the supervision of Professor Anna Corrias

This PhD Studentship is due to start in September 2019.

Webpage: https://www.kent.ac.uk/physical-sciences/staff/profiles/academics/anna-corrias.html

Contact: For further information or informal enquiries, please contact Prof Corrias at [Email Address Removed]

How to Apply: To apply please go to [https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/18/chemistry].

You will need to apply through the online application form on the main University website. Please note that you will be expected to provide personal details, education and employment history and supporting documentation (Curriculum Vitae, transcript of results, two academic references).

Deadline Date for Applications: 8th February 2019
Interviews to be held between: 18th – 28th February 2019