Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow

We are delighted to announce the recruitment of a Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow in Disruptive Manufacturing Approach for Safe and High Energy Solid-state Batteries.

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to join a cutting-edge £1.2M EPSRC-funded project focused on roll-to-roll manufacturing of next-generation solid-state batteries. This interdisciplinary project aims to revolutionise battery production by adapting techniques from optical fibre fabrication, to create safer, more affordable, and high energy density solid-state batteries. The goal is to enable continuous roll-to-roll production of ultrathin, lithium-doped glass films with high ionic conductivity and near-zero defect density. The application of fibre-drawing methods in battery manufacturing is disruptive, placing this research at the forefront of innovation.

The project involves a multidisciplinary team with researchers from the Optoelectronics Research Centre and School of Engineering (Prof Chris Holmes and Dr Pier Sazio) and the School of Chemistry (Prof Andrew Hector and Prof Nuria Garcia-Araez). Your role will involve glass manufacture, characterisation and development of the fusion draw process. You will work closely with research fellow (Dr Ajay Saroja) and an experienced glass technician (Chris Craig). The project will also benefit from an industry participation from the leading manufacturing company Morgan Advanced Materials.

World-leading glass fabrication facilities at the Optoelectronics Research Centre, which have been recently adapted for battery materials fabrication, are available for the project. These include fibre-drawing methods implemented inside a nitrogen-regulated glovebox, which enable the fabrication of air-sensitive battery materials. The project is also supported by a full range of world-class characterisation facilities (thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, Raman, optical and SEM/EDX microscopy, etc.) as well as versatile synthesis instrumentation and a fully equipped battery research laboratory. For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Prof Chris Holmes (christopher.holmes@soton.ac.uk).

To be successful you will have a PhD* (or equivalent professional qualifications and experience) in engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science or a closely related discipline. Experience in the synthesis of battery materials (or related systems), and in the use of materials characterisation techniques, or experience in optical fibre drawing is desirable.

* Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

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