PhD Scholarship: Photovoltaic–electrocatalytic integrated devices for solar fuels and chemicals

Description

Offer Description: Converting sunlight directly into fuels and chemicals offers a sustainable route to store renewable energy and decarbonise chemical production. This PhD project will develop integrated photovoltaic–electrocatalytic (photoelectrochemical) devices in which high-performance light absorbers are directly coupled with electrocatalysts to drive chemical reactions using solar energy. A major challenge is integrating efficient photovoltaic materials, including emerging organic and halide-perovskite semiconductors, with aqueous electrochemical environments without compromising their performance or stability. The project will develop conductive and chemically robust interfaces and catalytic layers to translate high photovoltaic performance into efficient (photo)electrocatalytic reactions. Particular attention will be given to minimising electrical and optical losses, controlling catalyst–electrode interfaces to tune product selectivity, and understanding the mechanisms that determine long-term device stability. The student will combine photovoltaic device fabrication, materials synthesis, electrochemistry, spectroscopy and microscopy with testing under simulated sunlight. Target reactions will include solar hydrogen production and the conversion of abundant molecules into value-added chemicals. The ultimate goal is to establish design principles for efficient, durable and scalable integrated solar-to-chemical devices capable of operating without an external electrical power supply. This scholarship is open to all applicants regardless of their fee status. It covers both tuition fees and a tax-free contribution to maintenance costs of £25,000 per annum for 42 months. The Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London offers an advanced 3-4-year research degree that provides in-depth specialist training and knowledge in a topical area pertaining to Chemical Engineering and related Engineering and Science disciplines. The Department has state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities and is the home of the Automated high-throughput platform suite , the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering and the Sustainable Futures Lab . The Department holds a Silver Athena Swan award for good practice in supporting academic women and gender equality renewed in 2024. This award recognises the good practices already in place for supporting women at all stages as well as our commitment to removing barriers to equal progress and achievement. Deadline: 01 November 2026 for the first selection round 11 January 2027 for the second selection round 01 March 2027 for the third selection round (subject to availability of scholarships) In order to be considered for the Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarships, you will need to submit your PhD application for admission through the online admissions system . Full details on the application and selection process can be found on our webpages . We encourage all interested applicants to contact Prof Salva Eslava ( [email protected] ) before making an application. Requirements: Research Field Chemistry Education Level Bachelor Degree or equivalent Research Field Engineering Education Level Bachelor Degree or equivalent Research Field Physics Education Level Bachelor Degree or equivalent Skills/Qualifications Bachelors and/or Masters in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or related disciplines. Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Sectors

Source

Source: euraxess.ec.europa.eu