Category ~ Phd
Award ~ £16,062
Deadline ~ 8 August 2022
This project is a collaboration between Welsh company U-Hire and The Future Manufacturing Energy Storge group in Swansea University. The project aims at reducing or eliminating the dependency of battery manufacturing on critical materials and utilising recycled materials feedstocks. The research focuses on “direct recycling”, which enables the recovery, regeneration, and reuse of electrode materials without breaking the chemical structure. The process allows the economic recovery of more materials than existing technologies and has the lowest cost and environmental impact. The new technology offers the advantage of having a lower carbon footprint (low temperature and low energy processes) compared to current technologies and avoids most impact on virgin material production.
We are looking for candidates to work in this novel and exciting research area. The project will mainly focus on developing new methodologies that allow (i) the liberation and separation of individual battery components and (ii) regeneration of liberated cathode via different chemical techniques, including solid-state and hydrothermal methods. This research tackles challenges that will contribute to the sustainability of the lithium-ion battery industry.
The successful candidate will join the energy storage research team at the Faculty of Science and Engineering and work in the cutting-edge battery research lab at Swansea University, Bay Campus.
Eligibility
Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level or Master’s degree with Merit (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Electrochemistry or a related field.
English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 5.5 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent
This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £16,062
Additional research expenses will also be available.
Application
Please see our website for more information.