PhD Studentship: Nanoconfined Water From Molecular Physics to Mechanical Energy Absorption

How does water behave when confined within spaces comparable to the size of individual molecules? Can we exploit this unusual behaviour to create materials with mechanical properties beyond those of conventional solids and liquids?

This PhD project will investigate water confined within nanoporous materials, particularly metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2025. Under mechanical pressure, water can be forced into hydrophobic nanopores, creating new solid–liquid interfaces and enabling efficient, reversible mechanical energy absorption. These molecular-scale processes can produce remarkable macroscopic responses, offering opportunities for impact protection, vibration damping and other technologies.

The research will explore how molecular interactions, pore structures, water transport and dynamic loading collectively determine material behaviour across multiple length and time scales, from molecular motion to engineering-scale mechanical responses.

Depending on the successful candidate's interests and expertise, the project may involve technique development, materials synthesis and characterisation, advanced mechanical and high-pressure testing, synchrotron/neutron/laser techniques, computational modelling, application prototyping, or combinations of these approaches. The specific scope will be developed collaboratively to build on the candidate's strengths while encouraging interdisciplinary exploration.

Who We Are Looking For

This is a highly interdisciplinary project, and we warmly welcome applicants from diverse scientific and engineering backgrounds, including but not limited to:

Chemistry: Nanoporous materials, crystallography, spectroscopy, physical chemistry, materials chemistry.
Physics: Molecular physics, multiscale modelling, thermodynamics, nanofluidics, shock physics.
Materials Science: Nanomaterials, soft matter, polymers, hydrogels.
Mechanics and Engineering: Solid and fluid mechanics, impact dynamics, acoustics, mechanical design.

Applicants are not expected to have experience across all these areas. We particularly value scientific curiosity, creativity, motivation and an interest in learning across disciplinary boundaries. Applicants should have a good degree (equivalent to a UK First or at least a 2:1) in one of the disciplines above.

Research Environment and Opportunities

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary research team at the University of Birmingham, working within a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship programme that bridges chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering. See: www.ysunlab.com

The project offers opportunities to work with advanced experimental techniques, access major research facilities including synchrotron, neutron, and laser sources, and collaborate with leading international researchers.

We are committed to providing a supportive, inclusive and collaborative research environment, with dedicated time, support, funding, and training opportunities for professional development, scientific communication, networking and career progression.

To apply, please contact Dr Yueting Sun (y.sun.9@bham.ac.uk) with a CV and a brief description of their research interests and background. Informal enquiries from applicants across different disciplines are very welcome.

References:

1. Sun et al, High-rate nanofluidic energy absorption in porous zeolitic frameworks. Nature Materials, 20(7), (2021).
2. Sun and Jiang, Mechanical energy absorption of metal–organic frameworks. In: Tan J-C (ed.), Mechanical Behaviour of Metal–Organic Framework Materials, Royal Society of Chemistry (2023).
3. Lai et al, Liquids with high compressibility. Advanced Materials, 35(44), 2306521 (2023).

Additional Funding Information

The successful applicant will receive 3.5 years of funding, covering tuition fees at the UK rate and a tax-free stipend at the UKRI minimum (£21,805 per year for 2026/27). A Travel and Training grant will support research and professional development throughout the PhD. International applicants are welcome to apply if they can cover the fee difference. Home fee status may apply to UK and Irish nationals and EU citizens with settled status, subject to relevant residency and eligibility requirements.

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