Femtosecond laser ablation X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiling for renewable energy applications

Many clean energy devices important to modern society and sustainable development goals are based on a multilayered structure. Key to the further development of such devices is the ability to acquire high-quality chemical information within the layers as a function of depth. XPS is the most widely used surface analysis technique, as it delivers both reliable quantified chemical compositions and chemical state information. Determining this chemical information beyond the XPS analysis depth (5-10 nm) requires material removal and analysis in a cyclical process, known as XPS depth profiling. 

Femtosecond laser ablation (fs-LA) is an exciting new approach to performing XPS depth profiles, as it avoids chemical damage and can profile to much greater depths than traditional XPS sputter depth profiling. Professor Baker is the inventor of this new technique and a prototype fs-LA XPS depth profiling spectrometer has been built in collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific. This project will initially involve making changes to the current fs-LA XPS laser-optical setup to improve the technique capabilities. Then, fs-LA XPS depth profiling will be applied to different renewable energy device technologies, including high-efficiency perovskite solar cells, Li/Na ion batteries, and polymer membranes for fuel cells/electrolysers. When combined with device performance data, the chemical compositions and bonding information from the fs-LA XPS results will enable an unprecedented deeper understanding of device operation, performance enhancement and degradation mechanisms. Other analytical techniques to be employed in the project include SEM, AFM, Raman spectroscopy and mechanical profilometry. Device performance measurements will include solar cell current-voltage curves, battery charge/discharge curves and cyclic voltammetry.

Project work will be undertaken both at the University of Surrey and at Thermo Fisher Scientific (East Grinstead, Sussex), using facilities at both sites. Hence, the PhD student will gain valuable experience of working both in an academic and industrial environment.

Open to any UK or international candidates. Up to 30% of our UKRI funded studentships can be awarded to candidates paying international rate fees.

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements for our PhD programme. PhD candidates must have a first class or 2:1 degree (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline, including Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics or Engineering.