4 Year GTA - Bio-Derived Carbonate Materials for Circular Chemical Manufacturing: Titanium Complexes for CO2 Valorisation

About the Project

Open to UK applicants only

The School of Chemistry has fully-funded Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) studentships available for UK applicants, starting in September 2026.

The opportunities allow successful candidates to pursue their passion for research in the chemical sciences, alongside developing their skills as chemistry lecturers and educators of the future. This includes working toward gaining recognition as an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

The GTA involves laboratory demonstrating and other teaching responsibilities in term time, with approximately 80% of your time dedicated to research across the calendar year. These are 4-year positions that include an annual stipend and salary package, full UK tuition fees, and a research and training grant.

Project Highlights

• Synthesis of titanium complexes and their application as catalysts for cycloaddition of CO2 and epoxides
• Use of biosourced feedstock in the synthesis of organic carbonates, and exploring potential applications as green solvents.
• Excellent training towards a research career in either academia or industry (e.g. energy sector, battery technology, bioeconomy, etc.)

Description

CO2 chemistry and the development of reactions utilising CO2 as a C1 feedstock have drawn significant attention because CO2 is not only an abundant, inexpensive, and non-toxic carbon source but also a major contributor to climate change. One of the most promising reactions for using CO2 is its transformation with epoxides to yield cyclic carbonates (Figure 1).[1] Cyclic carbonates can be used as synthetic intermediates in the synthesis of fine or bulk chemicals. They have been used as a raw material for the synthesis of polycarbonates, and as components in other carbonate-containing materials and composites. Another application of cyclic carbonates, which has grown significantly in recent years, is as green polar aprotic solvents because of their excellent solubilising properties and relatively low toxicities. This has also led to their use as electrolyte solvents in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).[2]

The replacement of oil-derived oxiranes with a terpene-based epoxides, such as 1,2-limonene oxide, presents a pathway to new bio-derived carbonate materials.[3] This PhD project aims to develop a sustainable catalytic cycloaddition process, using CO2 and epoxides derived from terpenes, and study the material properties of the new carbonate products towards applications as green solvents.

Kilpatrick et al. have a strong research focus on organometallic chemistry of the Earth abundant metals,[4] including CO2-epoxide copolymerisation,[5] and have recent discovered a titanium-based catalyst that is highly active under mild conditions. Bull et al. have a wealth of experience developing sustainable routes to biorenewable feedstocks for applications in the green chemical industry.[6] The project will be informed by engagement with industrial partners active in the development and deployment of functional fluids and electrolyte materials for energy storage and electric vehicle technologies.

This PhD project will expand the scope of early transition metal catalysts and bio-derived monomers applied to CO2-epoxide cycloaddition reactions and address key questions on the technical and economic feasibility of carbonate products. The research will contribute to the development of more sustainable chemical processes and materials, supporting the transition towards a circular economy and the long-term goal of reducing net CO2 emissions.

Project enquiries to Dr Sandy Kilpatrick afrk1@leicester.ac.uk

Application enquiries to Dr Richard Doveston r.g.doveston@leicester.ac.uk(Postgraduate Admissions tutor for the School of Chemistry)

To apply please refer to the application advice and use the application link at https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/funded-opportunities/chemistry-gta

Start 21 September 2026

Funding Notes

GTA Studentships provide funding for 4 years to include:

• Tuition fees at UK rates
• A combined teaching and stipend payment (for 2026/7 this will be £21,805 per year, paid in monthly instalments)
• Research training support grant (RTSG)