Clean hydrogen production on the move (Ref: CM/SD-SF1/2026)

About the Project

Hydrogen will provide a growing pivotal role in the medium to long term global sustainable energy future that will need to produce less emissions and rely much less on oil. This project is focused on producing hydrogen on site for uses that require hydrogen production to power equipment for short periods or distantly from refuelling sites.

Research will focus on the ferrosilicon family of materials and activating all the materials present in their complex mixtures to release hydrogen safely from all phases. The project will involve chemical experimentation and characterisation using a suite of different techniques to measure the quality of the hydrogen produced and the extent of the reaction including x-ray diffraction, gas analysis and electrochemistry. Supervised by Prof Sandie Dann (Chemistry) and Dr Elizabeth Ashton (Wolfson School), it will be a self-funded project aligned with the UKRI EnerHy Centre for Doctoral Training focused on engineering sustainable hydrogen solutions to everyday needs. It will benefit from cohort training through EnerHy e.g responsible research, equity and diversity training and through the University Doctoral College portfolio of peer support, skills training and networking.

Loughborough has an applied research culture where 94% of the work submitted in REF 2021 was top-rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:
Prof Sandie Dann s.e.dann@lboro.ac.uk

Name of secondary supervisor:
Dr Elizabeth Ashton https://www.lboro.ac.uk/schools/meme/staff/lizzie-ashton/

Entry requirements:
Students should have, or expect to achieve, a minimum of upper second class honours on a chemistry or material science programme. A 2:1 BSc qualification with appropriate master qualification at merit or better will also be considered acceptable.

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: Yes - Bench fee value: Standard chemistry bench fee plus consumables of 3K per annum

Closing date of advert: 30th June 2026

Start date: October 2026

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

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