Tracking order-disorder transitions in functional minerals: Designing sustainable materials for heat storage and ferroelectric applications

About the Project

A PhD studentship is available in the groups of Professor Caroline Kirk University of Edinburgh; School of Chemistry, https://edwebprofiles.ed.ac.uk/profile/dr-caroline-kirk, joint with Professor Sharon Ashbrook and Professor Finlay Morrison, University of St Andrews, School of Chemistry, https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/chemistry/people/sema/, https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/chemistry/people/fm40/

Many everyday devices rely on materials which undergo order-disorder phase transitions, which are crucial for their functionality. Phase change materials, for example, are used in heat storage and thermal management, as they store/release heat (energy) during the transition to the disordered/ordered phase. There is a pressing need to discover new materials which use earth abundant elements, and can be produced in more energy-efficient ways and are less toxic.

Minerals offer inspiration for discovering such novel materials. This proposal focuses on mineral families containing tetrahedral polyhedra (e.g., SO42–), which display order-disorder transitions via dynamic reorientation of the tetrahedra. Sulfate minerals such as belomarinaite KNa(SO4) and leonite (K2Mg(SO4)2.4H2O have potential in heat storage applications and sodalite-type ye’elemite (Ca4Al6(SO4)O12), has promise for ferroelectric applications. These minerals undergo order-disorder transitions.

The aim is to prepare chemically-similar analogues of these naturally occurring materials, and probe their composition-structure-functional property interrelationships using state-of-the-art techniques available at EastCHEM and national facilities.

Applying

In the first instance, the initial application of cover letter and CV should be directed to:

Caroline Kirk, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK.

Email: Caroline.Kirk@ed.ac.uk

The position will remain open until filled. A closing date may be added at a later date.

IMPORTANT

Before Submitting your cover letter and CV, please complete the online School of Chemistry Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Form for 26/27 Entryhttps://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk%2Fs%2Fedinburgh%2Fschool-of-chemistry-equality-diversity-inclusion-form-2024&data=05%7C02%7C%7C344514367973491046e608de0247791b%7C2e9f06b016694589878910a06934dc61%7C0%7C0%7C638950703149978905%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ybdmRpTrGLQbjUSfKXwD7ERuoPGaKJgiBM46hI8EGKw%3D&reserved=0

The form will automatically generate a unique ‘Receipt Number’ that you must include in your cover letter.

Funding Notes

The studentship is fully funded for 42 months by the University of Edinburgh and covers tuition fees and an annual stipend at the UKRI rate, for 2026-27 this is £21,805 per annum, for a candidate satisfying EPSRC residency criteria. View Website