Biomass-derived Carbon Dots for Biomass Photoconversion

This project will investigate the synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots from biomass derivatives produced using hydrothermal processes and understand their interaction with light. It will be determined whether these low-cost biomaterials will be able to generate excitons and separate them into electrons and holes upon irradiation with light and how different structural features of the carbon dots will influence their lifetime and mobility of electrons/holes in the exited states. Hybrids with other well-known semiconductors will also be prepared and characterised for their physicochemical properties as well as in the exited states. Of interest will be to understand how the carbon dots will be able to photosensitise existing well-known semiconductors such as C3N4 or conjugated polymers. Finally, we will investigate the ability of these carbon dots alone or in conjunction with other semiconductors to be involved in oxidation reactions from simple reactions such as oxidation of phenol to more complex reactions such as oxidation of important biomass derivatives such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into other high-value products such as 5-hydroxy-4-keto-2-pentenoic acid or other chemicals like 2,5-diformylfuran or even 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid.

QMUL Research Studentship Details
• Available to Home/EU Applicants only.
• Full Time programme only
• Applicant required to start in September/October 2018
• The studentship arrangement will cover tuition fees and provide an annual stipend for up to three years (Currently set as £16,553 in 2017/18).
• The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good Honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
• If English is not your first language then you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of 6 in Writing and 5.5 in all sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking).
• Please note that this studentship is only available to Home/EU Applicants. (See: http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/money/feestatus/ for details)

Supervisor Contact Details:
For informal enquiries about this position, please contact Prof Magdalena Titirici
Tel: 020 7882 6272
E-mail: [Email Address Removed]
https://titiricigroup.org

Application Method:
To apply for entry on to the Materials Science programme (Full Time) please follow the instructions detailed on the following webpage:

Research degrees in Materials:
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/subjects/materials.html

Further Guidance:
http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/applyresearchdegrees/index.html

Please be sure to include a reference to ‘2018 SEMS MMT2’ to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.