A fully funded 4-year studentship (PhD) is available in the School of Metallurgy and Materials, at the University of Birmingham under the supervision of Prof Emma Kendrick. This PhD is aligned with an exciting large interdisciplinary project, NEXTRODE (next generation electrodes), funded by the Faraday Institution, a £42 million initiative to accelerate the electric vehicle revolution by overcoming the related battery challenges. The project brings together researchers from six partners across the UK to investigate the scientific and engineering challenges in the optimising electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. Nextrode aims to strengthen the scientific understanding of existing electrode manufacturing, which we can then apply to bring more flexibility to slurry casting in order to realise battery performance improvements at industrial scale. At the same time, we will also develop a new generation of manufacturing approaches for ‘smart” electrodes where the different electrode materials are arranged with greater precision and provide even greater performance benefits. This exciting PhD project will work closely with Chemical Engineering at Birmingham and will investigate the metrology of electrode deposition. We will look at enhancing the performance of lithium-ion battery electrodes through precise slurry casting and deposition using a slot die or comma bar coating methodology. Novel metrology and characterisation tools will be utilised to study the effect of the deposition, drying and calendaring processes. We will develop novel metrology techniques to understand these processes better and to then optimise these with multi-material depositions for hierarchical structured electrodes. This project will be multi-disciplinary with all electrodes tested and characterisation using a suite of microscopy, electrochemical and materials characterisation tools. This PhD project will suit someone who has an enthusiasm and drive for research and is interested in battery and energy storage technologies. Some mixing and coating or materials and electrochemical characterisation experience would be useful but not essential as training and guidance in these techniques will be given. Qualification The candidate will have or expect at least a II(i) Undergraduate honours degree or Masters degree (or equivalent) in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics or related discipline. A background in materials or electrochemistry would be advantageous. Contact for further Information Informal inquiries may be made to Prof Emma Kendrick (e.kendrick@bham.ac.uk) Applications must be made through the university’s on-line application system [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/metallurgy-materials/phd/apply.aspx], please provide a cover letter summarising your research interests and suitability for the position; the contact details of two people able to provide a letter of reference; and a full curriculum vitae.
Please also send a copy of your full application to Prof Kendrick directly