PhD Studentship: Solar-driven electrochemical reduction of CO2 for efficient multi-carbon (C2+) productions

Project Title: Solar-driven electrochemical reduction of CO2 for efficient multi-carbon (C2+) productions

Project Description:

Many attempts have been done to achieve visible-light driven photocatalysis to convert carbon dioxide into storable hydrocarbons with high combustion value so as to meet the challenge of sustainable development in the context of solar energy utilization and emission reduction of carbon dioxide. However, the efficiency is impractical due to the restraints of conventional photocatalysts including the wide band gap and low electron-hole efficiency.

Comparatively, the solar-driven electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) may provide a promising route to upgrade captured CO2 into multi-carbon (C2+) products with much improved efficiency.

National/ International applications are invited for a fully-funded PhD studentship to investigate the electrocatalysis of CO2 by the use of innovative electrolytes material and design of optimized system to achieve practical conversion in the electrosynthesis of C2+ products, with a view to further investigate on the control of ion migration and evaluation of energy and carbon efficiencies. The successful PhD candidate will be required to undertake a detailed literature review of the state of art advances in materials fabrication and system design, conduct experiments and theoretical analysis to validate the superiority of the new materials and system. The successful candidate will be part of the Energy Storage Group within the Department of Engineering at University of Exeter in Penryn Campus.

Training will be provided at the beginning of the project to help the student develop fundamental skills needed for the research.]

Entry requirements

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second-Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in appropriate areas of Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering. 

Candidates are expected to start from September 2023.

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the required level (Profile A) as per our guidance at https://www.exeter.ac.uk/pg-research/apply/english/