PhD in Chemical Engineering - SUPREME: Scaling UP Energy Materials: Methods for Efficient Biogas Utilisation

Award Summary

100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £18,622 (2023/24 UKRI rate).

Overview

Recently the production of constrained nanoparticles via exsolution has been developed as a novel platform to produce tuneable arrays of emergent nanoparticles, intended as catalysts in small-scale devices. Exsolved nanoparticles are socketed and confined into the oxide support surface, a feature that seems to unlock superior functionality inaccessible through conventional synthesis routes. This approach brings new opportunities for the efficient utilisation of biogas as a clean energy source at large scale, including the dry reforming of biogas, which would otherwise rely on expensive platinum-group metals. However, this new class of catalysts still faces scale-up challenges.

The proposed work will induce a game changer impact in the areas of catalysis, energy materials and manufacturing. In particular, the proposed work aims to scale up exsolution via energy efficient synthetic routes of low-cost exsolved base-metal catalysts coupled with process modelling, reaction engineering and digitization. During the work the successful candidate will embody novel strategies for engineering novel functional nanomaterials with upscale potential for use in energy and industrial sectors.

The successful candidate will become a member of the Materials, Concepts, and Reaction Engineering Group. Our group is inherently multi-disciplinary, across chemical engineering, chemistry, and materials science. 

Number Of Awards: 1

Start Date: 16th September 2024

Award Duration: 3.5 Years

Application Closing Date: 31st March 2024

Sponsor:

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council – Doctoral Training Partnership EPSRC DTP 

Supervisors:

Dr Evangelos Papaioannou 

Dr Wenting Hu 

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project (inc. chemistry, material science, chemical engineering and related subjects). Enthusiasm for research, the ability to think and work independently, excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements.

Home and international applicants (inc. EU) are welcome to apply and if successful will receive a full studentship. Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.

International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme. 

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal 

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.  

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:  

·        search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8030F

·        Research Area: Chemical Engineering 

·        select ‘PhD Chemical Engineering (full time) - as the programme of study 

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:  

·        a ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) - upload a document or write a statement directly in to the application form.  

·        the studentship code ENG131 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field  

·        when prompted for how you are providing your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.  

Contact Details

Dr Evangelos Papaioannou email: Evangelos.Papaioannou@newcastle.ac.uk

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