Funding providers: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU), Germany.

Subject areas: Electrochemical Energy storage, Batteries

Project start date: 1 April 2022 (Enrolment open from mid–March) 

Project description:

This is an excellent opportunity to work on ever expanding area of energy storage. This PhD work will focus on the development of advanced single crystal cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. This a collaborative project between Swansea University and Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU), Germany. The selected student will have the opportunity to visit HIU for few months and other collaborators lab.

At Swansea University the PhD will be developed within the Energy Storage group which is part of the newly created Centre of Excellence ‘CAPTURE’ at the Faculty of Science and Engineering. CAPTURE (Circular Applications To Utilise and Retain Energy) is an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to the development of a circular approach to the manufacture and management of energy storage solutions.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) offer a cost-effective solution to state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). One of the major issues that hinder the commercial aspect of SIBs is the lack of stable cathode materials. Similar to LIBs, layered cathode materials are attractive for SIBs. However, significant volume change associated with Na-intercalation and deintercalation results in fast capacity fading for SIBs. Further, layered cathode materials are less stable in the air, making them less suitable for water processing. Recently single-crystal layered cathode (SCLC) materials shown to be promising for LIBs. The use of SCLC greatly improved the cycling stability and thermal stability. With these attributes, we studied SCLC for SIBs. Indeed excellent results were achieved with SCLC for SIBs. The selected student will further extend this concept to develop other cathode materials for SIBs.

Eligibility

Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to UK candidates only.

Additional Funding Information

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £15,609.

Additional research expenses will also be available. 

Please apply here.