PhD Studentship: Interfacial Chemistry of High-Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries

Supervised by Professor Lee Johnson

We are seeking to recruit a highly motivated and enthusiastic PhD student to join our battery research team within the Nottingham Applied Materials and Interfaces Group (NAMI, www.thenamilab.com) at the University of Nottingham. Our research focuses on understanding the fundamental chemistry that controls the performance and lifetime of advanced energy-storage technologies, and using this understanding to develop the next generation of high-energy batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries with nickel-rich positive electrodes offer some of the highest energy densities available from commercial battery technologies and are increasingly important for electric vehicles and other demanding applications. However, increasing the energy stored within these materials also introduces new challenges associated with their stability, particularly at high states of charge. Understanding and controlling the chemical reactions occurring between battery materials and electrolytes is therefore critical to developing batteries that combine high energy density with long lifetime.

This PhD project will investigate the fundamental chemistry occurring at the interfaces between high-energy positive electrode materials and battery electrolytes. The student will explore how electrode composition, state of charge, electrolyte chemistry and operating conditions influence interfacial reactions and long-term battery performance. The project will combine electrochemistry, physical-organic and battery testing with advanced chemical and spectroscopic characterisation to identify the processes controlling degradation and develop strategies to suppress them.

The successful candidate will gain broad expertise in electrochemistry, lithium-ion battery development, electrolyte chemistry and advanced materials characterisation. The project will be undertaken within a highly collaborative research environment with access to state-of-the-art battery and analytical facilities and interactions with academic and industrial researchers working across energy-storage science.

Funding: This PhD is eligible for EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award funding. Once a suitable PhD candidate is identified, they will be put forward for consideration for funding at a Faculty of Science-level. Please note that funding is not guaranteed and is subject to a competitive review. Funding outcomes will be communicated in March 2027.

The award covers Home fees and provides an annual stipend (£21,805 for 26/27). International candidates may apply and, if successful, would receive a University of Nottingham Fee Difference scholarship to cover the difference between Home and International fee rates.

Entry Requirements: We require an enthusiastic graduate with a first-class degree at Master's level in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, physics or a related discipline, or an equivalent overseas qualification. Candidates with a strong 2:1 degree may also be considered. Previous experience in batteries or electrochemistry is advantageous but is not essential.

To discuss the project informally, please contact Professor Lee Johnson at lee.johnson@nottingham.ac.uk.

Applications should be submitted via the University of Nottingham admissions portal: www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/course/research/2026/chemistry-phd