Carbon negative chemicals synthesis directly from the air

This is a fully-funded Ph.D. project focusing on developing dual-function materials (DFMs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by combining carbon dioxide capture and utilisation in a single reactor.

Start date

1 July 2022

Duration

3 years

Application deadline

10 May 2022

Funding source

University of Surrey

Funding information

Full tuition fees and a tax-free stipend at the standard UKRI rate (£15,609 for 2021-22). Funding available for international and UK students.

Supervised by

Dr Melis Duyar

Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Process Engineering

Dr Tomas Ramirez Reina

Visiting Professor of Chemical and Process Engineering

About

This is a fully-funded Ph.D. project focusing on developing dual-function materials (DFMs) that can capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and release it as a high-value fuel or chemical upon exposure to a reducing co-reactant.

DFMs have attracted attention recently within the power-to-gas concept, which seeks to convert CO2 emissions to synthetic natural gas using renewable hydrogen. We are now seeking to expand the applications of DFMs to the production of chemicals directly from the air through an experimental project. The project will focus on material synthesis, characterisation and testing, with an emphasis on developing fundamental understanding that can be applied to the improvement of this technology.

Eligibility criteria

The ideal candidate will hold a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a relevant discipline. Prior experimental research experience is desirable. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

UK, EU and international students are welcome to apply.

Language requirements:

IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.

How to apply

Please send CV to Dr Melis Duyar at m.duyar@surrey.ac.uk by 30 April 2022. A formal application should also be submitted via the Chemical and Process Engineering Research PhD programme page on the "Apply" tab. Please clearly state the studentship title and supervisor on your application.