Lancaster University is pleased to offer a fully funded PhD studentship as part of the Faraday Institution PhD Training Programme, focused on understanding the structure-property relationships of graphene-based conductive carbons for next-generation battery electrodes.

Conductive carbon additives are essential for battery electrode manufacturing; however, the influence of their local structural disorder on conductivity and percolation remains poorly understood. This project will investigate how structural motifs in graphene-based carbons govern electronic conductivity and electrode performance in advanced battery systems. The successful candidate will develop and apply advanced X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, supported by structural modelling and complementary characterisation techniques such as NMR and Raman to establish quantitative descriptors for carbon disorder.

The project will be hosted by Dr Xiao Hua (xiaohua.group) at the Department of Chemistry, Lancaster University, in close collaboration with HydroGraph, an industrial partner developing advanced graphene materials through patented detonation synthesis routes.

Dr Xiao Hua’s research group focuses on advanced characterisation of disordered energy materials and developing new structure-property understanding for batteries and related electrochemical systems, with expertise in X-ray total scattering, pair distribution function analysis, and operando methods. HydroGraph will provide specialised graphene materials with controlled structural properties for benchmarking and optimisation studies, alongside technical input and industrial mentorship throughout the project.

The successful candidate will undertake an industrial placement of about three months with HydroGraph during the PhD, gaining direct experience in graphene production, process optimisation, and industrial R&D challenges associated with next-generation battery manufacturing.

This project is also closely connected to major Faraday Institution research themes including thick electrodes, degradation, and next-generation energy-storage technologies. In addition to receiving a competitive UKRI stipend (£21,805 p/a), the successful candidate will join the national Faraday Institution PhD cohort and benefit from:

• a bespoke Faraday Institution PhD Training Programme;
• networking events and industrial visits;
• mentorship and internship opportunities;
• interdisciplinary cohort activities across the UK battery community;

Requirements

Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) a First Class or strong Upper Second-Class degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• strong interest in energy materials and carbon materials;
• strong interest in structure-property relationships of advanced materials;
• enthusiasm for experimental research and advanced characterisation;
• motivation to work across academia and industry;
• strong communication and teamwork skills.

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be advantageous, though not essential:

• diffraction/scattering methods;
• electrochemistry;
• Raman or spectroscopic techniques;
• materials synthesis;
• data analysis or modelling.

Eligibility

This PhD studentship is open to home students only (UK nationals or those with settled status), in accordance with UK Research and Innovation funding regulations.

How to apply (Please read carefully)

Informal enquiries are encouraged and may be directed to Dr Xiao Hua x.hua1@lancaster.ac.uk. Please note that formal applications cannot be accepted by email.

To apply for this Faraday Institution PhD position, applicants must complete both of the following steps:

1. Submit the Faraday Institution expression of interest form.
2. Apply through Lancaster University’s online postgraduate application system.

Please indicate clearly in your application that you are applying for this funded PhD project by quoting the project title in your application.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Deadline: 16July 2026.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Lancaster University and the Faraday Institution are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all researchers can thrive. Applications are particularly encouraged from groups currently underrepresented in STEM research.

Unravelling Local Structure in Disordered Rocksalt Cathode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries

The Department of Chemistry at Lancaster University is pleased to offer a fully funded PhD studentship as part of the Faraday Institution PhD Training Programme, focused on understanding the local structure and ion ordering in high performance materials for lithium ion batteries.

Disordered rocksalts (DRXs) offer significant potential as next-generation cathodes for Li-ion batteries. DRXs have crystalline structures but, unlike traditional battery materials, there is no long-range ordering of the lithium and transition metal cations within the crystal lattice. Understanding how the cations arrange themselves on a local level is crucial for rationalising electrochemical properties and optimising the performance, and this has been a key aim in recent Li-ion battery materials research; however, this is very challenging by traditional characterisation methods such as X-ray diffraction.

This project will combine solid-state NMR spectroscopy with X-ray pair distribution function (PDF) analysis to zoom in to the local structure in DRX cathodes and understand how lithium, transition metals, and other dopants such as fluorine, are arranged within the crystal lattice. Experimental characterisation will be supported by modelling techniques including density functional theory calculations and machine learning of NMR parameters and interatomic potentials.

This project would suit a candidate who has interests in physical chemistry and advanced materials characterisation. The project will be supervised by Prof. John Griffin and Dr Xiao Hua in the Department of Chemistry at Lancaster University.

This project is also closely connected to major Faraday Institution research themes including thick electrodes, degradation, and next-generation energy-storage technologies. In addition to receiving a competitive UKRI stipend (£21,805 p/a), the successful candidate will join the national Faraday Institution PhD cohort and benefit from:

• a bespoke Faraday Institution PhD Training Programme;
• networking events and industrial visits;
• mentorship and internship opportunities;
• interdisciplinary cohort activities across the UK battery community;

Requirements

Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) a First Class or strong Upper Second-Class degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, or a related discipline.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• interest in structure-property relationships of advanced materials;
• enthusiasm for experimental research and advanced characterisation;
• interest in materials modelling and theoretical calculations;
• strong communication and teamwork skills;

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be advantageous, though not essential:

• solid-state NMR spectroscopy;
• electrochemistry;
• materials synthesis;
• data analysis and/or modelling.

Eligibility

This PhD studentship is open to home students only (UK nationals or those with settled status), in accordance with UK Research and Innovation funding regulations.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Lancaster University and the Faraday Institution are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all researchers can thrive. Applications are particularly encouraged from groups currently underrepresented in STEM research.

How to apply (Please read carefully)

Informal enquiries are encouraged and may be directed to Prof. John Griffin (j.griffin@lancaster.ac.uk). Please note that formal applications cannot be accepted by email.

To apply for this Faraday Institution PhD position, applicants must complete both of the following steps:

Submit the Faraday Institution expression of interest form.

Apply through Lancaster University’s online postgraduate application system.

Please indicate clearly in your application that you are applying for this funded PhD project by quoting the project title in your application.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Funding Notes

Fees will be covered by the Faraday Institution, in addition to receiving a competitive UKRI stipend which for 2026-27 is £21,805 p/a.

Background

The energy crisis and climate emergency demand novel ways to store energy from renewable sources and achieve net-zero carbon emissions. We need better battery materials for the next generation of mobile transport and energy storage, and to understand in depth how these materials behave to optimise them for industrial applications. This challenge motivates the research of Dr. Michael Mercer’s and Prof. Abbie Trewin’s groups at Lancaster University, which combines atomic-scale methods with advanced electrochemical techniques. While lithium-ion batteries are leading the charge towards automotive electrification and energy storage applications, there are remaining challenges such as lithium dendrite formation which lead to pronounced safety and degradation risks.

This project is part of a collaboration with Gavion Ltd. We will exploit recent developments in Organically Synthesized Porous Carbon (OSPC) developed by Gavion Ltd. OSPC shows exceptional performance compared with the more standard graphite used in the anode in lithium-ion batteries, including reduced risk of dendrite formation and higher capacity. The role of the current collector, an essential part of all lithium-ion batteries, is not fully understood. Optimising the current collector in OSPC cells has great potential benefit for increased safety, capacity and cell lifetime and will form a core component of the project.

Project Description

A 4-year Faraday Institution PhD position is available at Lancaster University. The position includes a stipend of £21,805 per year and a Research Training Support Grant each year to support training and consumables, alongside access to a bespoke Faraday Institution Training Programme valued at £5000 per year. Recipients benefit from a wide range of development opportunities, including networking events, industry visits, mentorship, and internships, as well as high-quality training experiences designed to further develop your knowledge, skills, and career aspirations. As part of this studentship, you will have an opportunity to participate in a 3-month internship opportunity at Gavion Ltd.

The project focuses on understanding, characterising and engineering the interfaces in anode-free cells with a light OSPC coating. You will have the opportunity to perform several advanced techniques:

• Interface Characterization: Using state-of-the-art operando capabilities like Entropy Profiling (EP) to track ion ordering and interphase formation.
• Electrochemical Analysis: Applying standard charge/discharge cycling and techniques such as Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to diagnose degradation and optimize performance, determining the best combination of OSPC and metal current collector substrate.
• Commercial Scaling: Demonstrating the performance of OSPC in prototype pouch cells to evaluate its commercial potential for the battery industry.

Training and Development: The student will join the prestigious Faraday Institution network, receiving specialized training in battery science and electrochemical characterization. The project provides opportunities to develop data analysis and scripting skills. Additionally, the candidate will receive training in time management, technical writing, and presentation skills while contributing to research manuscripts and engaging with the wider Faraday Institution network and relevant industrial collaborators.

Requirements

• Academic: Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a 1st class or 2:1 UK Masters-level or BSc degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or aligned Engineering fields.
  • Note: Candidates with a 2:2 may be considered if they demonstrate excellent research skills.
• Technical: Possess theoretical and practical skills commensurate with a science-based undergraduate degree.
• Personal: A strong interest in experimental physical chemistry and battery science. Interest in developing skills for data analysis is essential, and prior experience with plotting and coding is highly desirable.
• Communication: Good written and oral communication skills and a collaborative attitude are essential.

How to Apply

• Enquiries: Michael Mercer welcomes informal email enquiries before submitting an application (m.mercer1@lancaster.ac.uk).
• Submission: there are two parts to submission:
  • submit a short Faraday Institution expression of interest form. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XL23CSF
  • apply through the university application process, via Lancaster University’s online application system. https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry/study/phd/phd-opportunities/
• Declaration: Please indicate on your application that you are applying for this funded PhD project by declaring the full project title.
• Deadline: Your application must be uploaded by 31^st July 2026.
  • Note: Applications are considered in the order received, and the position may be filled ahead of the deadline.

Funding Details

The studentship covers fees at the UK rate and is open to UK nationals only or those with settled status.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Lancaster University and the Faraday Institution are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all researchers can thrive. Applications are particularly encouraged from groups currently underrepresented in STEM research.