High resolution analytical 3D imaging of porous catalyst materials

Are you a physical scientist keen to make a difference to clean transportation technologies? Do advanced characterization and imaging techniques interest you? This PhD opportunity funded by an EPSRC Industrial Cooperative Award in Science & Technology (iCASE) will be based at the Harwell Campus near Oxford, home to the major UK facilities of Diamond synchrotron and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. You will work with Johnson Matthey, a global leader in the development of emissions controls technologies. You will also spend time at the University of Manchester and at other international research facilities.

Emissions from vehicles can harm air quality in congested cities and alter the global environment. Catalytic filters provide efficient ways to dramatically reduce the emissions of particulate matter and harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOx). These devices must operate at high and varying temperatures and make efficient use of expensive catalytic elements. Ongoing research aims to make them more effective and durable.

In this project you will use an array of high resolution imaging and in situ characterization techniques to understand and develop new materials for emissions controls. This will include 3D x-ray imaging probes available at Diamond Light Source and atomic resolution transmission electron microscopy. Together these provide a powerful toolkit to provide complete answers to the important challenges in catalyst filter operation and manufacture. You will directly observe in 3D and with elemental sensitivity the structure and performance of catalytic filters under operating conditions and through the life cycle. Upon project completion you will be able to independently select and execute the best available imaging techniques applicable to wide range of science and engineering careers, will have enabled industrial sponsor Johnson Matthey to address current manufacturing challenges in emissions controls technologies, and will have developed contacts throughout the academic and industrial communities and national laboratory facilities such as Diamond Light Source. Publication in academic journals and conference participation is expected during these studies.

This project will be based at Diamond Light Source, Oxfordshire. Applicants should have or expect to achieve at least a 2.1 honours degree in an applied physical science (such as Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Engineering, Earth Sciences or similar).