Glasgow Caledonian University - School of Engineering and Computing
Opportunity for a PhD Studentship in: Development of Low-Cost High Efficiency Electrode Materials for Batteries Applications
Applications are invited for a full-time PhD research Studentship within the School of Engineering and Computing. The studentship is for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress and provides payment of tuition fees at the UK/EU rate plus an annual stipend of £14,275*. The successful candidate is expected to undertake up to 6 hours of academic support activity per week.
*[please note that students from outside the EU are required to pay the difference between International and EU fees, currently this would amount to £6,100 per annum. This will be deducted from the stipend at the beginning of each session providing an annual stipend of £8,175.]
Project Description
It is generally accepted that the global demand for energy will dramatically rise in the future. Energy storage technologies (batteries) are considered the most promising for electric vehicles and renewable energy systems operating on intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar. The battery industry now employs a wide variety of metals and metal alloys as electrodes in various types of batteries. However, there remains a general requirement for new positive and negative electrode materials to facilitate production of the next generation of these energy storage devicesThe present project propose to employ electrochemical processes, with minimum environmental impact, to improve battery life by utilising as electrode materials metallic alloys to which constituents are added to impart an amorphous structure to the metallic electrode materials.
Objectives:
- To employ economically viable and environmentally acceptable process to produce more active and cost effective electrode materials based on Pd-M alloys (M = Co, Ni, Sn and Fe).
- To optimise the properties of the alloys (binary and tertiary). This will be achieved through optimisation of the system parameters and the electrocatalytic performance of the electrode/electrolyte interface of the battery system.
We are looking for highly motivated candidate with a good honours degree (minimum 2.1) or Masters in Electrochemistry/Chemistry or related discipline, who will have good analytical skills and strong interest in some of the following areas: electrolytes properties, electrode kinetics, electrochemical systems and processes, metallic coatings and their properties. The candidate must have a positive attitude toward interdisciplinary research and team work.
For informal enquiries and further details of this project please contact Professor M. El-Sharif by email at: mel2@gcal.ac.uk
School of Engineering and Computing
How to Apply:
Application forms are available here
Please state the Project Title on the completed application form.
The closing date for applications is Friday 15th January 2010
