PhD Research Studentships

Bifunctional Hybrid Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction Reactions

Supervisor: Ana JORGE SOBRIDO
Apply by:31 July 2017

Description

This project will apply innovative processing techniques to the development of new hybrid bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution and reduction reactions, including electrospinning, hydrothermal, sol-gel and electrodeposition techniques and combinations of those. Electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies (PEM water electrolysers, fuel cells and metal-air batteries) convert directly fuels to electricity carried by H+, OH- or Mn+, and rely greatly on ORR and OER electrocatalyst to perform this process. In order to accelerate the commercialisation of these devices, cost-efficient, stable and non-noble metal catalysts are needed. The main challenge in designing these electrode materials is to achieve an acceptable and selective performance for both OER and ORR, processes known to be kinetically slow and to involve multiple intermediates. Most of the state-of-the-art bifunctional catalysts suffer from low activity, high overvoltage between OER and ORR, low stability or high cost. This present an enormous limitation to the development of these energy conversion and storage technologies. The oxygen electrocatalysts will consist of N-doped C and transition metal oxide perovskite (ABO3, A= La, Ba, Sr; B= Co, Mn, Ni, Fe) hybrid materials. This PhD project aims to uncover the structural features and mechanisms involved in their catalytic activity and that drive their good performance and stability, i.e. the structure-property relationship.

This PhD project will give the successful candidate the opportunity to design, create and test new nanostructured hybrid electroactive systems for oxygen electrocatalysis. The materials will be characterised firstly in terms of structural properties (porosity, particle size, homogeneity, surface area, order), stability (in air, acid and alkaline media). For this, XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, AFM, TGA, DSC and Raman spectroscopy will be employed. A solid background in electrochemical techniques and materials science is essential. Experience using characterisation equipment typically employed in materials research is also an advantage.

QMUL Research Studentship Details

  • Available to Home/EU Applicants only.
  • Full Time programme only
  • Applicant required to start in September/October 2017
  • The studentship arrangement will cover tuition fees and provide an annual stipend for up to three years (Currently set as £16,296 in 2016/17).
  • 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 other sections (Reading, Listening and 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 Ana Belen Jorge Sobrido

Tel: 020 7882 5582

E-mail: a.sobrido@qmul.ac.uk

Application Method:

To apply for this studentship and for entry on to the Materials Science programme (Full Time, Semester 1 start) please follow the instructions detailed in section 3 of the following webpage:

http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/subjects/materials/index.html

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

Please be sure to include a reference to ‘2017 SEMS ABJS’ to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.

 

Deadline for applications: 31st July 2017

Eligibility

  • 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, you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in all sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking).
  • Candidates are expected to start in (Semester ).
  • SEMS and Principal-funded studentships: this studentship arrangement covers home tuition fees and provides an annual stipend for up to three years (currently set at the 2023/24 stipend rate of £20,622 pa)
  • Note that Queen Mary Research Studentships cover home-rated tuition fees only (See: www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/money/feestatus/ for details)
  • Overseas applicants would be required to meet the difference between home and international tuition fees

Contact

For informal enquiries about this opportunity, please contact Ana JORGE SOBRIDO.