Qualification Type: | PhD |
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Location: | Coventry, Warwick |
Funding for: | UK Students |
Funding amount: | £18,622 |
Hours: | Full Time |
Placed On: | 1st September 2023 |
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Closes: | 30th November 2023 |
Project Page – Centre
Project Overview
The performance of battery materials is dictated by the stability, efficiency and functionality of their interfaces, i.e. the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) at the anode and oxygen-induced cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) at cathode. Attempts to analyse these interfaces in order to determine their structure and chemistry is complicated by the extreme air-sensitivity, beam sensitivity and the high volatility of certain species present.
In order to address these issues WMG is in the process of procuring a specially configured characterisation tool for characterasing these critical interfaces in battery materials that consists of a Plasma Focussed Ion Beam (PFIB) microscope equipped with airless transfer and cryo capability.
In this project extensive use will be made of this new system to develop strategies for studying the degradation of buried interfaces and structure dynamics in state-of-the-art high Ni NMC cathodes as a function of cycle ageing i.e. the evolution of the CEI. The system provides some unique opportunities for developing powerful new ways to characterise these controlling interfaces and this will form the basis of this project. The specific objective of the projects are:
Essential and Desirable Criteria
Applicants should have qualified with, or expect to obtain, an upper second-class bachelor’s degree in material science, engineering, physics or chemistry. A relevant master's degree and/or equivalent practical experience will be an advantage. Excellent English written and spoken communication skills, self-motivatation and excellent time-management skills are also required.
Funding and Eligibility
Standard UKRI stipend for 4 years (currently £18,622) for home fee students only
Key Information
Funding Source: Lord Bhattacharya Award
Stipend: Standard UKRI stipend for 4 years (currently £18,622)
Supervisors: Louis Piper, Melanie Loveridge and Geoff West
Eligibility: Home fee students only
Start Date: 2nd October 2023
Research Group – Electrochemical materials/Microscopy
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