Fully Funded PhD Studentship on Battery Materials – University of Warwick
PhD in The Development of a New Multi-Modal Capability for Investigating the Performance-Controlling Interfaces and Microstructures that Underpin Operation of Battery Materials
Project Overview
The performance of battery materials is dictated by the stability, efficiency and functionality of their interfaces, i.e. the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) at the anode and oxygen-induced cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) at cathode. Attempts to analyse these interfaces in order to determine their structure and chemistry is complicated by the extreme air-sensitivity, beam sensitivity and the high volatility of certain species present.
In order to address these issues WMG is in the process of procuring a specially configured characterisation tool for characterasing these critical interfaces in battery materials that consists of a Plasma Focussed Ion Beam (PFIB) microscope equipped with airless transfer and cryo capability.
In this project extensive use will be made of this new system to develop strategies for studying the degradation of buried interfaces and structure dynamics in state-of-the-art high Ni NMC cathodes as a function of cycle ageing i.e. the evolution of the CEI.
The system provides some unique opportunities for developing powerful new ways to characterise these controlling interfaces and this will form the basis of this project. The specific objective of the projects are:
Define the capabilities of both Time-of-Flight SIMS and quadrupole SIMS for studying SEI layers in battery materials. SIMS is the only way to detect and map Li in bulk samples in an electron microscope.
RES4Africa Academy Technical and Vocational Micro-Grid Training (Fully Funded)
The AMMC microscopy centre at WMG is the only centre in the world to contain both types of SIMS detector in the same facility (to the best of our knowledge). This project will allow the capabilities of both flavours of SIMS (which have significant technical differences) for studying SEI to be systematically mapped.
The SIMS work will be extended by cooling the sample to cryogenic temperatures for the ToF SIMS analysis. This will be invaluable for probing both liquid and solid electrolyte batteries. The reduced species volatility and improved vacuum at low temperatures (known to improve ion yield) is expected to yield new capabilities.
Multiple Energy Careers at ABB – different roles in different countries
The SIMS work will be further extended to assess the effect of ion species. The new PFIB contains a multi-species ion source, which also provides new possibilities for the SIMS analysis of many types of layers and interfaces/interphases, which will also be explored in this project.
Essential and desirable criteria: Fully Funded PhD Studentship on Battery Materials – University of Warwick
| Applicants should have qualified with, or expect to obtain, an upper second-class bachelor’s degree in material science, engineering, physics or chemistry. A relevant master’s degree and/or equivalent practical experience will be an advantage. Excellent English written and spoken communication skills, self-motivatation and excellent time-management skills are also required. |
Funding and Eligibility
Standard UKRI stipend for 4 years (currently £18,622) for home fee students only
Funding is available to eligible Home fee statusLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window and UK domicile EU students.
To apply
To apply please complete our online enquiry form and upload your CV.
Please ensure you meet the minimum requirements before filling in the online form.
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