The project is hosted within the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), which offers access to advanced research facilities, interdisciplinary expertise, and strong links with international collaborators.
CREMA aims to develop climate-resilient air cathodes for refuellable magnesium-air (Mg-air) batteries, addressing a key challenge to their real-world application: instability in humid and high-temperature environments, such as tropical and sub-tropical weather conditions. Mg-air batteries provide high theoretical energy density as an alternative to conventional lithium-based systems, with the added benefit of a refuellable design, where the magnesium anode can be replaced rather than recharged.
The project will focus on designing and engineering catalytic cathodes with improved resistance to moisture and thermal degradation. A main innovation involves creating hydrophobic catalyst surfaces by controlling the solid-air interface, allowing for efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity even under difficult environmental conditions. Experimental work will include material synthesis, electrochemical testing in Mg-air flow-cell systems, and advanced surface and structural characterisation to understand degradation mechanisms.
The expected outcomes are enhanced cathode durability, fundamental insights into material-environment interactions, and the development of demonstrator Mg-air batteries capable of stable and efficient operation under harsh environments.
Supervisors
- Primary supervisor: Dowon Bae
- Secondary supervisor: Sonya Calnan
Entry requirements
Applicants should hold (or be expected to achieve) at least a 2:1 honours degree or higher in a relevant discipline, such as chemistry, materials engineering, chemical engineering, physics, or a related field. Strong interest in electrochemistry, materials science, or energy technologies is essential.
Applicants should ideally have:
- A background in electrochemistry or related disciplines (materials science, chemical engineering, chemistry, physics, energy engineering or other similar disciplines);
- Previous laboratory experience in chemistry or materials research;
- Interest in battery technologies and electrocatalysts. Strong analytical, experimental, and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, are highly desirable.
