Available Projects
Next-Generation Membrane Testing for Fuel Cells and Electrolysers Using Terahertz Spectroscopy
This is a unique opportunity to join a cutting-edge PhD project in collaboration with leading energy materials researchers and industry partners. Ion-exchange membranes are key to electrochemical devices, yet balancing performance and stability remains a challenge. This project will develop humidity-controlled terahertz spectroscopy to probe water properties within membranes, advancing material insights to optimise trade-offs for next-generation energy technologies.
Primary supervisor: Dr Hungyen Lin - Email: Hungyen.Lin@warwick.ac.uk
Project Detail
You will join a dynamic, interdisciplinary research team that will begin by characterising conventional membranes using our recently developed humidity-controlled terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c01820). The PhD candidate will then push the boundaries by developing and optimising the technique further, integrating with advanced instrumentation and custom software to unlock new functionalities. In latter phases of the project, the refined technique will be applied to characterise both commercial and custom-designed membranes, generating fundamental insights that will guide the design of next-generation energy materials in close collaboration with world-leading membrane experts and key manufacturers such as Johnson Matthey. This will not only advance scientific understanding but also contribute to innovations in fuel cells, electrolysers, and green hydrogen systems.
The University of Warwick provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.