Are you an ambitious researcher interested in working at the interface of science and engineering? Do you have an established research background in physical sciences or engineering? Do you wish to work within a multidisciplinary research team developing new dielectric materials by an innovative ceramic manufacturing technique? Do you wish to further your career at one of the UK's leading research intensive universities?

The main goal of the project is to advance particle aerosol deposition (AD) as a product development and manufacturing tool for a new generation of capacitors based on alkaline earth niobate dielectric ceramics. You will design and demonstrate new dielectric charge storage materials and investigate how they may be consolidated into dense coatings at ambient temperature using a particle aerosol deposition technique.

You will achieve these goals by first understanding the complex inter-relationships between crystal structure, microstructure and dielectric properties in selected tungsten bronze niobates. By a combination of compositional refinement, control of particle properties during powder synthesis, manipulation of coating conditions and control of defect structures you will manufacture a new generation of dielectrics suited to emerging capacitor applications in power and harsh environment electronics. The best materials will be fabricated into prototype high voltage, high temperature capacitors in association with collaborators at University of Manchester and industrial project partners in the US and UK, with whom you will develop personal links.

You will have a PhD (or close to completion) in physics, materials science, engineering, chemistry, or a closely allied discipline, with a strong experimental background in particle manufacture and characterisation, and knowledge of the influence of microstructure and defect chemistry on the properties of ferroelectric ceramics.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Steven Milne, Project Leader

Tel: +44 (0)113 3432539 or email: s.j.milne@leeds.ac.uk

Further information

The Schools in the Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences are proud to have been awarded the Athena SWAN Bronze or Silver Award from the Equality Challenge Unit, the national body that promotes equality in the higher education sector. Our equality and inclusion webpage provides more information.

Location: Leeds - Main Campus
Faculty/Service: Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences
School/Institute: School of Chemical & Process Engineering
Category: Research
Grade: Grade 7
Salary: £33,797 to £40,322 p.a.
Post Type: Full Time
Contract Type: Fixed Term (24 months (grant funding))
Closing Date: Tuesday 08 October 2019
Downloads: Candidate Brief