PhD Studentship - Laser Imaging of Sustainable Nanomaterials for Advanced Energy Applications

Project summary

This project uses advanced optical measurements to tune synthesis conditions and thus manipulate the properties of nanostructured carbon materials.  Such bespoke materials are required for applications such as in energy storage. The participating research groups have experience in thermal processes, laser imaging techniques and novel materials synthesis and the successful candidate will therefore join a vibrant, multi-disciplinary research team to work in a well-equipped laboratory.

Funding

Funding is available to cover a full, tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (£20,780 per annum for 2025-26) for 3.5 years, tuition fees (at the rate for UK students) and a budget of £8,000 for project costs and student development activities.

Supervisors

This project will be co-supervised by Dr Iain Burns and Dr Stephen Lyth. Potential candidates are encouraged to contact Iain Burns (iain.burns@strath.ac.uk) to discuss the opportunity.

How to apply

Potential applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  An appointment may be made before the closing date if an excellent candidate is found. You should complete an online application form here: www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/postgraduateresearchphdopportunities/engineering/chemicalprocessengineering/laserimagingofsustainablenanomaterialsforadvancedenergyapplications/#apply

You will be required to upload your CV, academic qualifications and two references. Applicants are additionally asked to email Dr Iain Burns (iain.burns@strath.ac.uk) to inform him of their interest.

Project details

Nanostructured carbon materials are the subject of intense research interest due to their many applications, such as energy storage, electrochemical devices, catalysis and water purification. Synthesis of such bespoke materials in flames has advantages including avoiding the use of solvents and favourable product purity.

Research in this area is nevertheless still characterised by a gap between research disciplines. In materials science, carbons are often prepared in simple or uncontrolled flames, such as by igniting a sample of precursor powder. On the other hand, research on thermal reacting flows has led to the adoption of standard laboratory burners whose characterisation has been advanced by the development of custom laser imaging methods for in situ spatial mapping of temperature, concentration of major and minor species, and volume fraction and size of particulates.

Applications of laser diagnostics to particle synthesis flames that have emerged more recently have largely concerned the production of metal and metal oxide particles.

Accordingly, this project initiates new research bridging the gap between these fields, with an emphasis on carbon materials. This PhD project will apply of in situ optical measurements during synthesis of carbon materials, for spatial mapping of, for example, particulate concentration, size and composition, and gas-phase composition. Through this approach the aim is to tune the carbon material properties for bespoke applications by manipulating the carefully-controlled flame conditions.

The specific objectives and work packages of the PhD project will therefore be as follows:

• Apply laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) of the hydroxyl radical for temperature imaging and flame structure analysis in carbon-synthesis flames
• Measure elemental concentration of alkali metals in carbon-synthesis flames by means of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
• Characterise particle loading and particle size in synthesis flames using laser-induced incandescence (LII) imaging and/or light-scattering
• Apply a range of standard ex situ methods for characterisation of the resulting carbon materials (for example, BET, TGA, XRD, TEM)
• Use the resulting data to derive new insights about the influence of synthesis conditions on properties of carbon materials (including specific surface area; crystallinity; etc.) and how to tune flame composition to produce carbon materials for bespoke applications

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