Development of Solar Thermal Fuels for Automotive Applications

A 3.5 year PhD studentship in materials chemistry is available under the supervision of Dr John Griffin and Dr Verena Görtz at the Department of Chemistry and Materials Science Institute, commencing in October 2017. The project, fully funded by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), will focus on the design, synthesis, and advanced molecular level characterisation of polymer solar thermal fuel materials.

Solar thermal fuels are a new class of materials that offer an alternative to conventional solar photovoltaics. They are based on photochromic materials, which store energy through changes in molecular structure in response to visible or UV-light irradiation. The stored energy can be retrieved as heat on demand through the application of a small heat or light trigger which switches the molecules back to their low energy state. Solar thermal fuels therefore potentially offer an “all-in-one” solution to solar energy storage and conversion: light energy is stored and converted to heat within one material, without the need for additional batteries, and with no moving parts or components that are susceptible to failure. Furthermore, since no chemical reactions take place within the material they do not degrade readily and have high cycle lives. Solar thermal fuels can also be incorporated into polymers, which exhibit energy densities on the same order of magnitude as lithium-ion batteries.

The aim of this PhD project is to develop photochromic polymer materials with optimised energy storage/release and coating properties and to establish advanced material characterisation protocols for the quantification of energy storage/release, and for the identification of relevant properties at the molecular level. The research program will therefore involve the synthesis of monomers with tailored properties, the implementation of polymerisation techniques, and property evaluation studies with a range of techniques such as (solid state) NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy.

The candidate will work in state-of-the-art experimental facilities at Lancaster University, and will regularly interact and work closely with our partners at JLR. In addition to experimental techniques, the project will involve the use of computational methods for analysis of experimental data and the development of structural models. Ideal candidates would have experience in the areas of synthetic (polymer) chemistry and material property evaluation but primarily should be willing to develop new skill sets as required by the project.

The Department of Chemistry at Lancaster University provides a research environment that strongly supports the individual needs of each student, promoting a healthy work-life balance. We are committed to the Athena Swan Charter, which recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education and research. Our commitment to these principles is reflected in our recent receipt of an Athena Swan Bronze Award.

Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a 1st class or good 2:1 UK Masters-level degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry. They should have a strong mathematical ability and excellent communications skills, both written and oral.

Applications should be submitted to Carol Cook ([Email Address Removed]), this will need to include a CV, Personal Statement and an Academic Reference. Informal email enquiries to Dr John Griffin or Dr Verena Görtz prior to making an application are welcome. Applications will be considered in the order they are received and the position may be filled when a suitable candidate has been identified.