Diamond Light Source - EPSRC CASE Studentship: Tailored nanocomposites through the controlled reduc

Chemistry

Location: Highfield Campus

Closing Date:  Friday 21 April 2017

Reference: 856817EB

PhD Supervisor: Dr Peter Wells (University of Southampton), Dr Diego Gianolio (Diamond Light Source).                          

PhD Description:

Catalysis underpins key societal needs, perhaps most importantly, increasing the availability of food through nitrogen fixation, via the Haber-Bosch process. Elsewhere, catalysis supplies us with fuel and energy (Fisher-Tropsch process), as well as providing the basis for our material-world, as a consequence of its prevalence in the chemical industry. The drive towards more sustainable technologies requires the development of new catalytic materials, both metals and metal oxides, of controlled size, shape and composition. Furthermore, controlling the interface between metal nanoparticles (NPs), and metal oxide supports is of fundamental importance; the metal-support interaction allows for increased metal dispersion, resistance from sintering, directs the metal NP shape, and provides additional active sites. The interplay between the metal NP and metal oxides has paved the way for significant breakthroughs in heterogeneous catalysis and supported metal NPs remain a cornerstone within the field.  We have recently demonstrated a new route towards tailored metal NP – metal oxide composites using metal-organic framework (MOF) supported metal NP templates. Our initial proof-of-concept work has demonstrated their enhanced catalytic properties, although more work is needed to realise their full potential. This project will understand the mechanism of formation of these nanocomposites in greater detail, alongside exploiting their potential to impact new catalyst technologies.

To make best use of the advanced characterisation techniques demanded by the project it will be located on the world-leading Harwell Innovation Campus, where the project will be based between Diamond Light Source and the Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH).

The PhD will be for 3 years and will be paid the standard EPSRC stipend plus an additional stipend enhancement from the industrial partner.

Eligibility criteria can be found on the EPSRC website - https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/

Applications for an MPhil/PhD in Chemistry should be submitted online at Applications for a PhD in Chemistry should be submitted online at:

https://studentrecords.soton.ac.uk/BNNRPROD/bzsksrch.P_Search

Please ensure you select the academic session 2017-2018 in the academic year field and click on the Research radio button.  Enter Chemistry in the search text field.

Please place Dr Peter Wells in the field for proposed supervisor/project

General enquiries should be made ppwells@soton.ac.uk.  Any queries on the application process should be made to pgafnes@soton.ac.uk

Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, and the position will be considered filled when a suitable candidate has been identified.