PhD Studentship in Atom by Atom Optimisation of Nanoporous Catalysts

Supervisor: Dr. Ayman El-Zoka, Prof. Baptiste Gault

Start Date: 1st October 2023

Location: South Kensington Campus

Funding for: UK Students, EU Students resident in the UK for 3 years (if they qualify as home students i.e., if they have pre-settled/settled status).

Project Description:

Applications are invited for a 3.5-year fully funded PhD studentship in the in-situ characterization of corrosion reactions.

Early experimental work revealed the formation of uniformly nanoporous structure by dealloying AgAu for making nanoporous gold (NPG) that exhibits exciting functional properties. Dealloying is a complex process and ex-situ studies cannot fully resolve some intricate atomic-scale details at the dealloying interface and at the surfaces of the nanoligaments formed as a result. In this project, we will be pioneering the use of the burgeoning technique of cryo-atom probe tomography to probe the morphology and chemistry of the liquid-solid interface in real time and space, nearly atom by atom. Systematic analyses at different electrochemical conditions will help us refine existing models on nanoporous metal formation by corrosion, and to define pathways for their optimization for catalytic activity.

The ideal candidate for the role will have received a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a related discipline. They will preferably have some experience with electrochemistry or characterization.

The project will be supervised by Dr. Ayman El-Zoka and Professor Baptiste Gault in the Department of Materials.

Funding Notes:

The funding will cover tuition fees plus a maintenance stipend of £19,668 per year, EU students are eligible if they qualify as home students i.e., if they have pre-settled/settled status.

More information:

To find out more about Professor Baptiste Gault’s research, please go to: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/b.gault/research.html and for Dr. Ayman El-Zoka’s research, please go to: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/a.el-zoka.

To find out more about More information on the Department of Materials can be found here: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/materials

Enquiries about the post can be directed to Dr Ayman El-Zoka, a.el-zoka@imperial.ac.uk Applications should be sent by email (including CV, Transcripts, and Research Statement)

Closing Date: 31 December 2022

For questions regarding the admissions process, please contact Annalisa Neri, Formal applications can be completed online but only after informal enquiries: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/materials/research/phdopportunities while information about the Department can be found at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/materials. 

Advert information