PhD Studentship: Additive Manufacturing of High Thermal Conductivity Silicon Nitride

University of Birmingham - School of Metallurgy and Materials

Qualification Type:	PhD
Location:	Birmingham
Funding for:	UK Students
Funding amount:	£25,000
Hours:	Full Time

Placed On: 15th December 2025
Closes: 27th February 2026

Silicon nitride, Si3N4, is generally considered a thermal insulator with values of thermal conductivity, k, as low as ~30 Wm-1K-1, which is much lower than some other ceramics such as silicon carbide, aluminium nitride and beryllium oxide. High k ceramics, however, are increasingly needed for applications as power electronic device material substrates in alternative energy technologies, electric vehicles and other industrial applications where thermal dissipation is a critical issue. High thermal stresses induced by high levels of electrical power pose serious challenges for devices with brittle ceramic substrates providing both electrical insulation and heat dissipation. Si3N4 has very good mechanical properties such as high strength, fracture toughness and thermal shock resistance, therefore the development of a high k Si3N4 that retains its mechanical performance is very desirable and the subject of current research around the world. The highest k value yet achieved in a laboratory is ~170 Wm-1K-1; if this could be increased to >200 Wm-1K-1 it would allow Si3N4 to compete directly with aluminium nitride, which is not known for its mechanical performance. This work will explore first the development of a high k Si3N4 and then the additive manufacturing of the components with the aim of achieving complex geometries with the enhanced ceramic.

Funding notes:

This PhD programme will be hosted in the School of Metallurgy & Materials at the University of Birmingham (UoB), UK and is an exciting opportunity to undertake industrially-linked research in partnership with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).
This fully funded 3-year full-time studentship is available only to UK nationals. The successful applicant will receive a generous tax-free annual stipend of £25,000, full-time home tuition fees paid, and £2,000 per year for consumables and travel. Funding from MTC requires passing their security checks before starting the PhD and we are looking for someone who:

• A first or upper-second class degree, or MSc with merit or distinction, in an appropriate discipline such as materials science and engineering, chemistry, physics, mechanical engineering, etc.
• An enthusiastic, inquisitive and self-motivated individual with the ability to undertake high quality research and produce first rate presentations and written reports.

The project will be supervised by Prof Jon Binner (j.binner@bham.ac.uk).