PhD Studentships: Centre for Experimental Fuel Technologies (CEFT)

About the Project

WE ARE RECRUITING four PhD students to start in October 2025. Each 4-year studentship is generously funded with an enhanced stipend, all tuition fees covered, and research support funding, including for participation in conferences.

There are four PhD student vacancies in total, with three Home fee status and one Overseas fee status available.

Successful students will join our new Centre for Experimental Fuel Technologies (CEFT), which aims to develop innovative fuel cell and battery technologies, underpinned by fundamental understanding. The Centre is an exciting venture bringing together leading research groups in the Department of Chemistry, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and the School of Engineering at the University of Warwick. The centre collectively has world-leading expertise and facilities in electrochemistry, materials chemistry, advanced characterisation techniques (including a variety of spectroscopy, microscopy,) modelling and battery and fuel cell construction and testing. We aim to develop next generation electrochemical energy technologies through holistic views of ammonia/methanol fuel cells and metal and metal ion (Li, Na, Ca etc.) batteries, from the nanoscale to device level.

In addition to the range of exciting projects offered, the cohort of CEFT PhD student will benefit from bespoke training courses and opportunities for collaboration across the departments, with CEFT academics and their collaborators (within Warwick, nationally and internationally).

Candidates with first degrees (Bachelor’s and/or Master’s) in all branches of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematical Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering, and Chemical Engineering are welcome to apply.

If you are seeking an exciting opportunity to become part of a multidisciplinary team of esteemed researchers converging around the shared technologies and innovative research methods essential for battery and fuel cell development, please read through the opportunities below and click here to apply to the Centre.

Warwick Manufacturing Group

Three successful offer holders will be under the supervision of Prof. Louis Piper and Dr. Mel Loveridge in the Warwick Manufacturing Group.

Prof Piper and Dr Loveridge have vast experience in functional materials for energy storage/harvesting applications (e.g. Li-ion batteries), along with the development of various advanced characterization methods. WMG has a suite of laboratories for synthesis, electrochemistry and battery scale-up, which boast cutting-edge facilities for accelerating material developments at laboratory scale into pilot line validation.

School of Engineering

There is one PhD studentship available in the research group of Prof. Shanwen Tao.

Prof Tao’s research activities involve the areas of fuel cells, electrolysers, batteries, super-capacitors, electrochemical synthesis of ammonia and hydrocarbons, catalysts for ammonia synthesis, CO₂ and O₂ separation membranes. The focus of research activities for CEFT is Direct Ammonia/Methanol Fuel Cells (DAFCs/DMFCs), electrolysers and electrochemical synthesis of ammonia and methanol. Tao’s group invented low temperature DAFCs based on either polymeric or ceramic OH^- ionic conducting electrolytes. DAFCs/DMFCs have the potential for transport applications, such as vessels, trains, lorries, coaches even cars.

The one PhD studentship at School of Engineering is focused in one of the following areas:

(1) Develop electrocatalysts for ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR) to be used as the anode for Direct Ammonia Fuel Cells.
(2) Develop electrocatalysts for the synthesis of ammonia or methanol at mild conditions.
(3) Develop materials for robust and low-cost electrolysers for green hydrogen production.

(4) Prepare large area solid oxide fuel cells by tape-casting or other methods.

For outstanding overseas candidates, will cover the overseas fee too.

Publications from Prof Tao (Google Scholar): 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=bjeLEs4AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

How to apply:

For all students who are intended to apply, please use the below Programme Application Portal to get in touch with the Programme Admission Admin. Application received in other channels will be re-directed and requires apply for a second time.

Initial Application Portal: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/ceft/application-process/form

Full Programme Admission Instruction Page: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/ceft/application-process/

Funding Notes

This is a 4-year studentship that generously funded with an enhanced stipend, all tuition fees covered, and research support funding, including for participation in conferences. Successful students will join our new Centre for Experimental Fuel Technologies (CEFT), which aims to develop innovative fuel cell and battery technologies, underpinned by fundamental understanding.

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