Research Fellow, Electrochemistry

Electrochemistry

Location:  Highfield Campus
Salary:   £34,980 to £42,978 per annum
Full Time Fixed Term until 30/06/2026
Closing Date:  Monday 06 November 2023
Interview Date:   To be confirmed
Reference:  2464823EB

Safe and High Energy Solid-state Batteries Enabled by a Disruptive Manufacturing Approach

We are looking for a highly motivated and high calibre research fellow to work on the development of a new type of solid-state battery with outstanding safety and energy density.  The battery will be manufactured using a novel fusion draw process, which enables the seamless, roll-to-roll production of ultrathin glass films with virtually no defects. These materials are ideally suited to supress the formation of lithium dendrites, which are the number one issue hampering the commercialization of solid-state batteries. However, the use of the fusion draw manufacturing method is unprecedented in the battery field.

The project involves a multidisciplinary team with leading researchers from the Optoelectronics Research Centre (Chris Holmes and Pier Sazio) and the School of Chemistry (Andrew Hector and Nuria Garcia-Araez). Your role will involve the synthesis and characterization of glass materials with good compatibility with the fusion draw process, as well as the electrochemical and safety characterization of the battery components and full batteries. You will work closely with an outstanding research fellow (Bruno Moog) and an experienced technician (Chris Craig), who will be in charge of the development of the fusion draw process for battery manufacturing. The project will also benefit from an Industry Advisory Board, with participation from the leading manufacturing company Morgan Advanced Materials.

A full range of world-class facilities (X-ray diffraction, synthesis instrumentation, NMR, mass spectrometry, correlative Raman, SEM and EDX microscopy, and fully equipped battery research laboratories) will be available for the project, with further capabilities available at the Optoelectronics Research Centre. For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Prof. Nuria Garcia-Araez (N.Garcia-Araez@soton.ac.uk).

To be successful you will have a PhD* (or equivalent professional qualifications and experience) in chemistry, materials science or a closely related discipline, experience in the synthesis of battery materials (or related systems) and in the use of materials characterisation techniques.

* Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification.  The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD.  Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.