Developing sustainable supplies of lithium-6 and lithium-7 for the nuclear sector

About the Project

Future decades are likely to see greatly increased demand for lithium-6 and lithium-7 for use in nuclear fusion blankets and for pressurised water reactor coolant systems, respectively, but current supply of these isotopes is limited. This project will combine techno-economic and environmental analytical techniques, including life cycle assessment (LCA), to evaluate the impacts of emerging 6Li and 7Li production processes and to identify the most promising process development routes from a sustainability perspective. The work will build in existing relationships with industrial partners in the fusion and fission sectors to ensure commercial relevance to and help translate sustainability findings into practice.

This project is part of the Nuclear Doctoral Focal Award in Radiation Protection, Nuclear Safety and Environmental Sustainability (RAPTOR). The successful candidate will be part of a cohort of PhD students across four universities (Manchester, Liverpool, Surrey, Suffolk) working in a national programme with 18 industrial partners. During the first months of this PhD, training will be provided UK experts in radiation protection, environmental assessment and radioactive waste management, nuclear safety and security, and social value and societal impact.

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in Chemical Engineering or a related science/engineering discipline. Only UK students are eligible for this PhD scholarship.

Funding

This 4-year PhD project is fully funded; students who are eligible to pay tuition fees at the Home rate are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) plus an uplift of £5000 per annum and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The Research and Training Grant will be £2,500 per annum.

The start date is October 2026.