PhD Research Studentships
Environment-Friendly Photovoltaics for Green and Energy Autonomous IoT devices
| Supervisor: | Zhe LI |
| Apply by: | 29 January 2025 |
| Start in: | September (Semester 1) |
Description
A PhD position is available in the group of Dr Zhe Li, Reader of Materials Science at the School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London. The successful candidate will join a team of four PhD students and three postdoctoral researchers working in his group. The research of Dr Zhe Li's group is is focused on the development of high performance, high stabiltiy and environmentally friendly solution-processed semiconductors and devices for photovoltaic applications and beyond. We have a particular interest in understanding the materials structure-function-stability-exotoxicity relationships of solution processed organic, perovskite and quantum dot semiconductors and utilising such relationships to develop sustainable solar cells and other types of optoelectronic devices. The successful student will have access to lab facilities including gloveboxes and photovoltaic device fabrication and testing facilities, a wide range of characterisation facilities (SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, advanced AFM, lab GIWAXS, tr-PL) and a brand-new Green Energy lab including a state-of-the art thermal evaporator for perovskites, organics and metals.
Future Internet-of-things (IoTs) devices will reach 30 billion by 2030. The next 5-10 years will see a tsunami of e-waste due to billions of IoTs reaching their end of life. However, as an essential consideration for sustainability, end of life management has not yet been integrated into their current design. Conventional IoT devices comprise electronic and power components that are either difficult to recycle and degrade, or contain toxic/critical elements, thereby posing significant economic, regulatory, environmental and public concerns. This studentship aims to develop “zero waste” power harvesting components, in particular photovoltaic ambient energy harvestors based on organic or perovskite semiconductors, for future IoTs and portable electronics with built-in recyclability and biodegradability. Enabling electronic and power components will be designed and developed to be both easier to recycle (e.g. separation of components by submerging under different solvents, heating etc) and degrade into environmentally benign products (composts, harmless small molecules, environmentally friendly metals/salts) when discarded in the environment at end of life. The project encompasses the preparation and engineering of organic or perovskite materials within programmable degradation, development of plant-based packaging and zero waste “transient” electronic/power components from low-cost biodegradable materials.
Funding
Funded by: China Scholarship CouncilCandidate will need to secure a CSC scholarship.
Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.
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 minimum score of 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking).
- Candidates are expected to start in September (Semester 1).
Contact
For informal enquiries about this opportunity, please contact Zhe LI.
Apply
Start an application for this studentship and for entry onto the PhD Materials Science full-time programme (Semester 1 / September start):
Please be sure to quote the reference "SEMS-PHD-655" to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.
| Related website: | https://www.sems.qmul.ac.uk/staff/zhe.li | |
| SEMS Research Centre: | ||
| Keywords: | Energy Technologies, Materials Science - Other, Polymers |