PhD Studentship: Synthesis, characterisation, and/or modelling of hydrogen storage materials

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic doctoral student in the field of synthesis, characterisation and/or modelling of next generation materials for hydrogen storage and compression at the University of Nottingham.

You will join our multidisciplinary team of currently eight academics, seven research fellows, and 15 PhD students investigating novel multinary reactive hydride composites and phases with enhanced hydrogen density for hydrogen storage, increased ion mobility for hydrogen storage, and solid ion conductors and low enthalpy metal hydrides for hydrogen compressors. The project will cover a wide range of skill sets and range from experimental work on synthesis and characterisation to the modelling of hydrogen metal reactions.

Efficient energy storage of hydrogen and hydrogen rich carriers is of utter importance for future zero carbon economies, and there is an exciting opportunity to join our hydrogen research team to investigate novel energy materials for the compact storage and/or compression of hydrogen. You will investigate hydrogen reaction properties of metal hydrides, complex hydrides, their composites, and analyse, characterise or model the reaction pathways and the properties of involved phases.

Candidate requirements

You must have very good knowledge and expertise in material physics and/or chemistry or computational solid-state physics/ chemistry

Candidates with experience in the synthesis, characterisation and performance testing or modelling of metal hydrides, complex hydrides and/or their composites will be given preference

Knowledge of and experience in the characterisation of fast ionic conductors is welcome

These works are part of a larger project on which several PhD students and postdocs will work and will be conducted in collaboration with other researchers at the University of Nottingham as well as other international groups and research facilities. Therefore, we are seeking good team players. The research will involve periods working at our partner’s labs or synchrotron and neutron research facilities.

There are a number of initiatives to support early career researchers with different life experiences to ensure everyone can flourish e.g. mentoring, incubating new ideas, flexible working, support, and guidance when applying for prestigious fellowships or grants to take your ideas forward.

You will work closely with Professor Martin Dornheim, Professor David Grant or Dr Sanliang Ling and the hydrogen storage team at Nottingham and research labs and partner institutions world-wide. As part of your career development you will be exposed to many exciting fundamental and applied projects that the group is involved with. We strongly support all our researchers to present their work at national or international conferences and there is budget allocated for this.

Funding and eligibility

For funding reasons we are particularly looking for UK applicants.

The funding is from the Leverhulme Trust and will be for up to four years depending on the start time and candidate. The tax-free stipend is £20,622 (October 2025) and increments annually.

How to apply

Please send your CV to Professor Martin Dornheim at martin.dornheim@nottingham.ac.uk

The university actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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