PhD Studentship: Tandem Catalysts for Selective Acidic CO₂ Electrolysis

University of Exeter; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded PhD

Tuition fees covered

Tax-free stipend

Job summary

1000scholars is offering a fully funded 3-year PhD studentship at the University of Exeter. The project focuses on developing Cu-based and tandem catalysts for selective acidic CO₂ electrolysis, aiming for multicarbon products like ethylene.

Applicants should hold a UK honours degree in a related field and may have electrochemistry or catalysis experience. UK and international applicants are welcome; the stipend is tax-free and tuition fees are covered, with a minimum of £21,805 per year.

Qualifications

• First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related discipline.
• Experience in electrochemistry, catalysis or materials synthesis is beneficial but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop Cu-based and tandem catalysts for selective acidic CO2 electrolysis.
• Conduct catalyst synthesis, materials characterisation and electrochemical testing.
• Evaluate performance in terms of selectivity, rate and stability.

Skills

Electrochemistry

Catalysis

Materials synthesis

Education

First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science

Job description

Electrochemical CO₂ conversion offers a promising route to produce fuels and chemicals using renewable electricity. Acidic CO₂ electrolysis has the potential to improve carbon utilisation compared with conventional alkaline systems, but achieving high selectivity and stability remains a major challenge.

This PhD will develop advanced Cu-based and tandem catalysts for selective acidic CO₂ electrolysis, with particular emphasis on multicarbon products such as ethylene.

The research will investigate how catalyst composition, nanostructure, support properties and spatial organisation influence electrolysis performance. Possible approaches include nanostructured Cu catalysts, catalyst confinement within porous supports and tandem architectures that combine complementary catalytic functions.

The student will undertake catalyst synthesis, materials characterisation and electrochemical testing using gas-diffusion electrode and flow-cell systems. The work will evaluate catalyst performance in terms of product selectivity, reaction rate, carbon utilisation and long-term stability.

A central aim will be to identify catalyst designs that maintain strong electrochemical performance under practically relevant operating conditions, linking materials development directly with electrolysis performance.

The project is closely aligned with the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship led by Dr Mengnan Wang, which is developing scalable acidic CO₂ electrolysers for sustainable chemical manufacturing. Within this wider programme, this PhD will focus specifically on catalyst development and electrochemical performance.

The student will join an interdisciplinary research environment spanning electrocatalysis, electrochemical engineering and advanced materials, with opportunities to engage with academic and industrial collaborators.

Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree or equivalent in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or a related discipline. Previous experience in electrochemistry, catalysis or materials synthesis would be beneficial but is not essential.

This is a fully funded 3-year PhD studentship at the University of Exeter. Both UK and international applicants are eligible. The award will cover tuition fees and provide an annual tax-free stipend of at least £21,805 per year.

International tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of at least £21,805 per year