Open-channel metal-organic frameworks
Full-time Project: yes
Project Description:
This project is aimed at synthesizing, fabricating and characterising dual ion batteries, where both electrodes are mesporous/nanoporous carbons. For the anode, it will involve hydrothermal synthesis from (waste) biomass, using a variety of reagents and conditions, to make a porous ‘hard carbon’. The cathode will use a similar (waste) biomass feedstock, but will be synthesized with low temperature (<1500C) graphetisation using Ni or Fe catalysts, to form a graphitic carbon. Characterisation techniques include electron microscopy, electrochemical charging/discharging, complex impedence, cyclic voltammetry, XRD, Raman, XPS, SAXS, neutron scattering, x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Some of the techniques will be done using in-situ in-operando cells.
Requirements:
A good undergraduate degree in physics or related discipline.
SPA Academics: Alan Drew