Accelerating Development of Cost Effective Metal Catalysts for H2 Generation (Ref: CM/MS-SF1/2026)

About the Project

The growing interest in developing pathways to clean, sustainable energy continues as the result of diminishing oil reserves. One promising solution utilises hydrogen as a clean fuel and offers an attractive route towards net zero attainment. In this exciting project, based within our group in the Department of Chemistry at Loughborough University, new catalyst development will be explored for cost effective hydrogen generation.

We have been interested, for many years, in organometallic and coordination compounds that are based on late transition metals such as ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, and platinum to name but a few. In addition, we use complimentary ligands typically based on Group 15 donor atoms incorporating nitrogen or phosphorus centres that can firmly anchor these metal sites into predefined arrangements that are suited for catalyst development. Recent interest by ourselves, and others, has redirected focus to the use of cheap earth abundant metals that can perform similar catalytic transformations.

In this exciting project, we will use ongoing synthetic methodologies developed in our research group to prepare novel supported dinuclear, earth abundant (Fe/Co/Ni), metal containing catalysts. Once synthesised and fully characterised, these compounds will be systematically evaluated for their electrochemical ability to facilitate hydrogen evolution under a broad range of experimental conditions.

This project will provide an excellent training opportunity, for a prospective PhD candidate, in modern well-equipped laboratories with access to multinuclear NMR facilities (solution and solid state), X-ray crystallography, FT-IR spectroscopy, and electrochemical kit.

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:
Dr Martin Smith m.b.smith@lboro.ac.uk
https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/chemistry/staff/martin-b-smith/

Entry requirements:
2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in chemistry or a chemistry related discipline.

English language requirements:
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).

Bench fees required: No

Closing date of advert: 31st July 2026

Start date: October 2026, February 2027, July 2027

Full-time/part-time availability: Full-time 3 years

Fee band: 2025/26 Band RB (UK £5,006, International £28,600)

How to apply:
All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select Chemistry. Please quote the advertised reference number: CM/MS-SF1/2026 in your application.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit a CV and the minimum supporting documents.
The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application. Please note that this criteria is used for both funded and self-funded projects.
Please note, applications for this project are considered on an ongoing basis once submitted and the project may be withdrawn prior to the application deadline, if a suitable candidate is chosen for the project.

Project search terms:
chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, structural chemistry, synthetic chemistry, catalysis, hydrogen

Email Address Sci:
sci-pgr@lboro.ac.uk