PhD Studentship - (UoM-Peking) Advanced Energy Materials for Bright and Efficient Optoelectronic Devices

The University of Manchester; Manchester; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Manchester invites applications for a PhD position as part of a dual award with Peking University. The project focuses on new carbene‑metal‑amide and related OLED materials, aiming at high colour purity, stability and efficiency. You will work under Dr Alexander Romanov, Prof.

Michael Turner and Prof. Zhiwei Liu, with collaboration across institutions, and gain hands‑on synthetic/inorganic and photophysical skills.

Qualifications

• Practical researcher with experience in synthetic inorganic chemistry and/or organic materials chemistry.
• Interest in photophysical characterisation and OLED device fabrication.

Responsibilities

• Conduct synthesis and characterisation of new carbene‑metal‑amide and related OLED materials.
• Collaborate with Manchester and Peking University teams to advance device performance and stability.
• Develop photophysical measurements and contribute to device fabrication experiments.

Skills

Inorganic chemistry

Organic materials chemistry

Photophysical characterization

OLED fabrication

Education

First degree in Chemistry (2:1)

Job description

About 20% of the world’s electricity production is used for lighting and powering our displays, which account for 6% of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) have a major role as energy‑saving technology with applications in displays, solid‑state lighting panels, wearable electronics, sensors, and virtual/mixed‑reality displays. New advanced materials discoveries are highly required on multiple fronts to increase OLED devices' colour purity, device lifetime, and light output and reduce energy consumption.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Alexander Romanov and Prof. Michael Turner at the University of Manchester (2 years) and Prof Zhiwei Liu at the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University (2 years). The project is part of a comprehensive programme exploring a new family of strongly photo‑emissive coinage metal complexes based on carbene‑metal‑amide (or acetylides) and the doublet state‑luminophores based on Ce(III) or Eu(II) complexes. These materials recently demonstrated excellent photoluminescent properties and are capable of producing OLEDs with high efficiency and operating stability (Advanced Materials, 2024, 36, 2306249; Advanced Materials, 2024, 36, 2404357; Adv. Mater. 2024, 36, 2408118; Adv. Func. Mat., 2025, e05661). The successful applicant will become a part of the established team at the University of Manchester and will work in collaboration with Peking University (Prof Zhiwei Liu). The post will involve substantial collaboration and would suit an ambitious, highly motivated and practical researcher with some experience in synthetic inorganic chemistry and/or organic materials chemistry. There will also be the opportunity to develop complementary skills in the photophysical characterisation and OLED device fabrications, therefore, an additional interest in materials science would be desirable. Applicants should hold a First degree (2:1 or above) in Chemistry.

Manchester entry is open to UK and international students. Chinese nationals from Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong, including dual nationals, should apply through Peking.

For full eligibly and funding information, please see our dedicated page here PhD dual award - Manchester and Peking University | Science and Engineering Faculty

NB: All projects advertised under the UoM-Peking University dual award scheme are competition-funded and not all projects advertised will offer a place on the programme.