Materials Engineering PhD

**Overview**<br/>As a postgraduate researcher in materials engineering you will be based in the School of Engineering. Our research areas include:<br/><br/><br/>- kinetics and formation mechanisms of new materials<br/><br/><br/>- predictive modelling based upon mechanistic understanding.<br/><br/><br/>Work covers the production, property measurement and performance assessment of:<br/><br/><br/>- ceramics<br/><br/><br/>- polymers<br/><br/><br/>- metals<br/><br/><br/>- composites.<br/><br/><br/>Your research will focus on:<br/><br/><br/>- understanding the physical and chemical descriptions that underlie materials performance<br/><br/><br/>- developing property and performance models of materials.<br/><br/><br/>We focus on developing new materials for advanced engineering applications. This includes:<br/><br/><br/>- microelectronics<br/><br/><br/>- optics<br/><br/><br/>- power transmission.<br/><br/><br/>Current research projects include:<br/><br/><br/>- developing novel surface engineering processes and materials (such as fullerene-like coating materials)<br/><br/><br/>- energy-based methods for performance modelling<br/><br/><br/>- nanomaterials and nanocharacterisation techniques<br/><br/><br/>- novel materials for intensified processes.<br/><br/><br/>A major research strength is the measurement and modelling of the mechanical response of materials at high-spatial resolution, particularly in microelectronic and optical devices. A combination of unique equipment and interdisciplinary expertise supports this.<br/><br/>Another research focus is the materials requirements for the sustainable development and use of key resources, in particular water and energy. We have significant research into:<br/><br/><br/>- the generation of energy from novel sources<br/><br/><br/>- low carbon and renewable technologies<br/><br/><br/>- the clean-up of effluent and wastewater.<br/><br/><br/>Our major areas of research are:<br/><br/><br/>- fuel cells and energy systems<br/><br/><br/>- gasification<br/><br/><br/>- cold plasma gasification<br/><br/><br/>- bio-fuel cells<br/><br/><br/>- bio-diesel production<br/><br/><br/>- gas and water treatment<br/><br/><br/>- nano-structured polymer composites for pollution control<br/><br/><br/>- sustainable and environmental electrochemical systems<br/><br/><br/>- photochemical processes and electrochemical synthesis.<br/><br/><br/>**Facilities**<br/>The School of Engineering has a wide range of attractive facilities.<br/><br/>The School occupies five floors in Merz Court. We provide a student common room and a separate student study space.