About the Project
Applications are invited to the Engineering Division at the School of Mathematics, UEA, for a PhD in the field of nanotechnology, electrochemistry and manufacturing for energy storage.
High performance electronics have accelerated the development of advanced energy storage device such as supercapacitors (SCs)) [1]. SCs have demonstrated higher power density, shorter charging time, longer cycle life, and better operational safety compared with some rechargeable batteries [2, 3]. However, practical applications of SCs are still seriously hindered due to the relatively poor performance of the electrode materials, such as low specific capacitance in carbon based materials, poor cycling stability in transition metal oxides, etc [4, 5].
This PhD project aims to develop a novel inkjet-printed technology to print solid-state SCs on flexible substrates. The PhD candidate will prepare some nano-sized electrode materials with controllable physical, electrical and chemical properties. The candidate will determine how the properties of the electrode materials influence the diffusion mechanism of gel electrolyte and the structural stability of the SCs. Finally, the candidate will evaluate the performance of the solid-state SCs in terms of specific capacity, rate performance, energy and power densities, and cycle life.
Interviews will be held w/c 22 January 2018.
For more information on the supervisor for this project, please go here: https://www.uea.ac.uk/mathematics/people/profile/k-hui
Type of programme: PhD
Start date: October 2018
Mode of study: Full time
Acceptable first degree: Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering and other related disciplines will be considered.
The standard minimum entry requirement is 2:1.
Funding Notes
This PhD project is in a Faculty of Science competition for funded studentships. These studentships are funded for 3 years and comprise home/EU fees, an annual stipend of £14,553 and £1000 per annum to support research training. Overseas applicants may apply but they are required to fund the difference between home/EU and overseas tuition fees (in 2017/18 the difference is £13,805 for the Schools of CHE ,PHA & MTH (Engineering), and £10,605 for CMP & MTH but fees are subject to an annual increase).
References
i) Service, R. F., Materials science - New 'supercapacitor' promises to pack more electrical punch. Science 2006, 313 (5789), 902-902.
ii) Choi, K. H.; Yoo, J.; Lee, C. K.; Lee, S. Y., All-inkjet-printed, solid-state flexible supercapacitors on paper. Energy & Environmental Science 2016, 9 (9), 2812-2821.
iii) Tehrani, Z.; Thomas, D. J.; Korochkina, T.; Phillips, C. O.; Lupo, D.; Lehtimaki, S.; O'Mahony, J.; Gethin, D. T., Large-area printed supercapacitor technology green energy storage. Energy 2017, 118, 1313-1321.
iv) Hui, K. N.; Hui, K. S.; Tang, Z.; Jadhav, V. V.; Xia, Q. X., Hierarchical chestnut-like MnCo2O4 nanoneedles grown on nickel foam as binder-free electrode for high energy density asymmetric supercapacitors. J Power Sources 2016, 330, 195-203.
v) Ren, L.; Hui, K. N.; Hui, K. S.; Liu, Y. D.; Qi, X.; Zhong, J. X.; Du, Y.; Yang, J. P., 3D hierarchical porous graphene aerogel with tunable meso-pores on graphene nanosheets for high-performance energy storage (vol 5, 14229, 2015). Sci. Rep. 2016, 6, 1.
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