Synthesis, characterisation, and/or modelling of hydrogen storage materials
About the Project
Do you want to play a key role in the transition away from a fossil fuel-powered economy? We are looking for motivated applicants for a fully funded three-year PhD position to develop technology, materials, or computational models for hydrogen and/or ammonia storage and compression, working with the world-renowned Hydrogen research group at the University of Nottingham.
We are a vibrant, multidisciplinary team of five academics, eight research fellows, and nine PhD student, with backgrounds spanning chemical and mechanical engineering, computer science, chemistry, physics, and materials science.
We collaborate with partner institutions worldwide including Japan, Australia, Poland, France, Germany, and the USA and frequently provide exchange opportunities for our researchers. We also perform measurements at international research facilities such as synchrotron and neutron sources.
A central aim of our research is to translate fundamental structural insights into the rational design of next-generation materials with enhanced hydrogen storage capacity, thermodynamic tunability, and cycling stability — with direct relevance to hydrogen technologies such as mobile and stationary energy storage and hydrogen compression. This includes the investigation of high-pressure metal hydrides at pressures of up to 1000 bar, as well as ionic conductors, and reactive hydride composites: all key material classes in the development of practical energy technologies. Depending on your background and interests your PhD may focus on experimental synthesis and characterisation, application-based system design and scale-up, performance testing, or computational modelling of hydrogen and ammonia reactions and phase behaviour. Projects span a wide range of approaches and there is ample scope to shape your own direction within the groups broader research programme.
Candidate requirements
We welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds. All applicants should have, or be on track for, a 2:1 or above at bachelor's or master’s level in a relevant discipline, and share a collaborative, team-oriented approach — this project involves close working with fellow PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, and international partners.
Experience in hydrogen research is beneficial but not required. Through certified courses and in-house training and mentoring we aim to support candidates with no prior experience working with hydrogen.
Mechanical/systems-based PhDs
- Degree in mechanical, materials, chemical, or aerospace engineering, or a related discipline.
- Strong knowledge of mechanical systems design; experience in prototyping and fabrication is desirable.
- Knowledge of materials science, particularly the fundamentals of metallurgy.
Materials science/chemistry-based PhDs
- Degree in chemistry, physics, materials science, materials physics, materials chemistry, or a related engineering discipline
- Experience using materials characterisation techniques such as XRD, EDX, SEM, and calorimetry.
- Experience in the synthesis, characterisation, performance testing, or modelling of metal hydrides or complex hydrides is an advantage.
- Familiarity with fast ionic conductors is welcome but not essential
Computational PhDs
- Degree in physics, chemistry, materials science, computer science, or a related discipline
- Strong background in computational solid-state physics/chemistry
- Experience modelling hydrogen–metal reactions, phase behaviour, or related systems is desirable
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