Two PhD Studentships in Structural Power Composites

Applications are invited for two fully-funded Ph.D. studentships in the Department of Aeronautics. The projects are focused on the development and demonstration of multifunctional materials (structural power composites) that can simultaneously store electrical energy whilst carrying mechanical loads. This emerging field melds the two disparate disciplines of composite mechanics and electrochemistry, presenting compelling technical challenges and offering exciting opportunities to develop and innovate with new materials. These composites will provide enormous weight and/or volume savings for any electrically powered structural system, from mobile phones to aircraft.

These positions are in the Structural Power Composites Group at Imperial College London, providing the candidate with opportunities to work closely with our academic and industrial collaborators in the UK and Sweden. Both research projects will entail both experimental studies in the Multifunctional Materials Laboratory and Composite Suite in Aeronautics, and the development of predictive tools for structural power materials. Further details of the work of the Group and their collaborators can be found here.

Project descriptions

PhD 1 is funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering under the Chair in Emerging Technologies Award. It is focused on the development and demonstration of structural battery composites, including the development of new structural electrodes (anode and cathodes) and structural electrolytes. These constituents will be assembled into structural batteries, the multifunctional performance for which will be characterized.

PhD 2 is funded by the Aeronautics Department and is aligned with the EPSRC funded project ‘Realising Structural Power’, in collaboration with Universities of Durham and of Bristol. This study will be focused on development of new encapsulation strategies, and the assembly and integration of structural power devices into final components.

Both candidates will gain experience in:

• Development of new structural power constituents;
• Manufacture and characterisation of the structural supercapacitors and batteries;
• Study into scale-up, such as encapsulation and multicell assembly into final components;
• Development of multifunctional modelling and design tools for products using these materials.

Candidate profile

Candidates with a background in Engineering, Chemistry or Physics, or a related discipline, with experience in materials characterisation and/or electrochemistry, are encouraged to apply.

Funding

The studentship is available to Home, EU and International students. The position is offered for the duration of 3.5 years, starting as soon as possible. The studentship provides full coverage of tuition fees, a travel budget, and an annual tax-free stipend of £19,668. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

For full information on fee status eligibility, please visit  https://www.imperial.ac.uk/students/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/fee-status/

Application

Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form, following the standard Imperial College application procedure: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/apply/. Any queries regarding the application process should be directed to Ms Lisa Kelly by email at l.kelly@imperial.ac.uk.

Deadline until filled

Required documents

For further information, interested applicants should approach Prof Emile S Greenhalgh (e.greenhalgh@imperial.ac.uk) and Dr Sang Nguyen (s.nguyen06@imperial.ac.uk). But please note that only applications completed via standard Imperial College application procedure will be considered. 

Imperial College is committed to equality and valuing diversity. We are an Athena Silver SWAN Award winner and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

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