Understanding decoupled electrochemistry for energy storage, conversion and electrosynthesis

Background

Decoupled electrochemistry is broadly the process of using a mediating chargeable redox species to drive an electrochemical process with a freely dispersed catalyst instead of a reaction directly at an electrode. The approach is relatively novel in the field of electrochemistry, having emerged in the early 2010s to drive water splitting to hydrogen and oxygen.¹ The hydrogen evolution reaction has since been studied in other ways,^2,3 as it redefines how electrochemical water splitting can take place. For one, it permits the use of redox flow battery electrolytes to drive the reaction, increasing the storage capacity of the whole energy storage system by having both battery and hydrogen storage. More recently our group has explored using the same principle to drive other challenging electrochemical reactions. Last year we demonstrated that CO₂ reduction to formate is feasible using carefully selected redox species.⁴ Other groups have demonstrated that selective organic synthesis can be achieved using a mediator approach. Essentially, decoupled electrochemistry is a route to energy conversion, storage, and a route to electrosynthesis and molecular transformations, but is a largely unstudied field of chemistry.

Project description

A 3.5 year departmentally funded PhD position is available at Lancaster University.  The aims of the project are to increase the portfolio of chemical reactions that are benefitted by being a decoupled process. Furthermore, it is to better understand the relationship between electroactive redox species, the catalysts and the analyte of interest (e.g. protons to hydrogen, CO₂ to formate etc).  The successful candidate will engage in a broad range of research skills with electrochemistry central to the work. The project will involve some organic and inorganic synthesis and collaboration with synthetic groups, solid state materials synthesis of catalysts, materials and chemical characterisation, electrochemical characterisation, battery cycling and evaluation, and comprehensive product analysis. The student will therefore gain a breadth of skills and knowledge in the field of chemistry, while gaining a specific expertise in long duration energy storage technologies.

References:

1.      Amstutz et al, Energy & Environmental Science, 2014

2.      Zhang et al, JACS 2021 10.1021/jacs.0c09510

3.      Ji et al, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2020

4.      Potter et al, Energy & Environmental Science Catalysis, 2024

Requirements

Applicants will hold, or expect to receive, a 1st class or 2:1 UK Masters-level or BSc degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, or a closely related discipline and possess theoretical and practical skills commensurate with a science-based undergraduate degree programme. Candidates with a 2:2 may be considered if they can demonstrate excellent research skills in their application and references.

The successful candidate will combine an interest in physical chemistry, electrochemical systems and energy storage with synthetic coordination and organometallic chemistry and the willingness to learn and apply multiple analytical, electrochemical and characterisation techniques. They will also have enthusiasm for work in a laboratory environment, a collaborative attitude, and excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

How to apply (Please read carefully)

Prof. Kathryn Toghill encourages informal email enquiries before submitting an application (k.toghill@lancaster.ac.uk). Please note that we cannot receive applications by email as they must be processed centrally.

Applications should be made via Lancaster University’s online application system (http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/how-to-apply-for-postgraduate-study/).

Please indicate on your application that you are applying for this funded PhD project by declaring the title of the advertisement where prompted. You may use the project description as your research proposal to apply for this studentship.