Innovative Biopolymer Electrolytes with Enhanced Sodium-Ion Conductivity for Sustainable Battery Solutions (ReNU+24/EE/MCE/XING)

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities Plus (ReNU+) is a collaborative doctoral training programme run by the Universities of Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham. In addition to undertaking an individual scientific research project at one of the three partner Universities, doctoral candidates will engage with added value training opportunities, for example in business, innovation and internationalisation through a 4-year training programme that has been designed to maximise the benefits of a cohort approach to doctoral training. The start date is 1st October 2025. 

PhD Opportunity: Innovative Biopolymer Electrolytes for Sustainable Sodium-Ion Batteries

Join the Charge Towards a Greener Future!

By 2050, the UK aims to achieve a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to 1990 levels. This goal underscores the urgent need for sustainable energy storage technologies to facilitate the transition to net-zero emissions. Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries are emerging as a promising, cost-effective alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries, particularly for large-scale energy storage solutions. While lithium-ion batteries have transformed energy storage, their reliance on scarce materials like lithium and cobalt raises significant environmental and safety concerns. In contrast, sodium is abundant and inexpensive, making it an attractive alternative. This project focuses on developing sodium-ion quasi-solid-state batteries using biopolymeric electrolytes derived from biomass waste, paving the way for a more sustainable, safer, and efficient approach to energy storage.

Project Highlights:

·        Cutting-Edge Materials Discovery: This research will innovate a materials discovery process that integrates computational chemistry, materials science, and artificial intelligence. By accelerating the identification of high-performance materials, we aim to reduce the material discovery timeline from years to just months, facilitating the commercialization of sustainable sodium-ion batteries.

·        Hands-On Research: The successful candidate will engage in various aspects of the project, starting with the identification of promising biopolymer candidates through AI atomistic modelling and molecular dynamics simulations. You will assess sodium-ion transport properties, structural flexibility, and ion conductivity.

·        Advanced Validation Techniques: Following initial modelling, you will employ density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to validate the most promising materials, calculating energy barriers for Na-ion migration and simulating ion transport under diverse operational conditions. While primarily computational, there will be opportunities to validate models with experimental results, ensuring the development of optimized biopolymeric electrolytes.

What We Offer:

·        Dynamic Multidisciplinary Environment: Work with top experts in computational chemistry, materials science, and artificial intelligence, gaining invaluable insights and experience.

·        Strong Supervision Team: Benefit from the guidance of top experts, including Dr. Lu Xing (Sustainable Energy Scientist), Dr. Ulugbek Azimov (Battery Expert), Dr. James Dawson (Scientist in Energy Material, Solid State Batteries), and Dr. Ioan-Bogdan Magdău (Scientist in Theory and Computation, Machine Learning).

·        State-of-the-Art Facilities: Access cutting-edge research facilities and engage with industry partners for potential commercialization of your work.

Candidate Profile:

We seek a motivated candidate with a background in computational chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering, who has a strong interest in sustainable energy storage technologies and a passion for interdisciplinary research.

If you are excited about advancing battery technology and contributing to a sustainable future, we encourage you to apply!

Academic Enquiries

This project is supervised by Dr. Lu Xing. For informal queries, please contact lu.xing@northumbria.ac.uk. For all other enquiries relating to eligibility or application process please email pgr.admissions@northumbria.ac.uk.

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Academic excellence i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities with preference for 1st class honours); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement. However, a 3 or 2:2 may be considered with relevant work experience, skills and/or expertise, please contact the Institution Director, vincent.barrioz@northumbria.ac.uk for further info.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• have settled status, or
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Applicants will need to be in the UK and fully enrolled before stipend payments can commence. Note the following are not covered by the studentship. 

• Immigration Health Surcharge https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application
• Student Visa to enter the UK, please refer to https://www.gov.uk/student-visa.
• Costs associated with English Language requirements.

International applicants (including EU) must have valid immigration permissions to live and study in UK if they wish to study on a part-time basis. Northumbria University does not sponsor part-time student visas.

For further details on how to apply see https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/    

Please complete the PhD application form in full, include the advert reference (e.g. ReNU+24/…) and also:

1. Upload degree certificates, transcripts and English qualifications (if applicable).
2. Upload your CV under the ‘Experience section’. This is MANDATORY.
3. In the personal statement section, select ‘no’ and type ‘no personal statement required’ in the box.
4. Research proposal is NOT required. Upload a blank document to progress your application. Choose ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Are you applying for a UKRI studentship?’ and then choose ‘EPSRC ReNU Plus’.
5. Choose ‘Scholarship’ under source of funding.
6. Post submission, you need to login to the applicant portal to complete a competency assessment form.

Deadline for applications: 3 February 2025 

Start date of course: 1 October 2025 

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our postgraduate research students. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Leader, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.