PhD Scholarship in electrochemical water splitting

Electrochemical water-splitting is recognised to be one of the most promising approaches to store renewable energy in the form of hydrogen fuel. Commercially feasible water electrolysis requires the use of highly stable and active electrodes, known as electrocatalysts, to overcome the high energy barrier(s) associated with water-splitting. Electrode structure and composition strongly dictate the kinetics and mechanisms of electrocatalytic processes, and thus there is a great need for techniques that can probe electrochemical activity at the scale of surface heterogeneities, e.g., from single defects to the individual grains and grain boundaries of a polycrystal.

This exciting project, entitled “Nanoscale Reaction Imaging of Water-Splitting Electrodes” aims to develop and implement a state-of-the-art electrochemical microscopy platform—the first of its kind in Australia—to probe the nanoscale electrochemistry of promising water-splitting electrodes and reveal catalytic active sites directly and unambiguously. As part of this project, the successful applicant will be among the first to work with frontier nanoscale imaging techniques in electrochemistry (e.g., scanning electrochemical cell microscopy, SECCM), and will also develop considerable expertise in complementary surface analysis techniques (e.g., SEM, TEM, XPS, EBSD etc.) and LabVIEW/MATLAB coding. For SECCM and related surface analysis techniques see for example: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03454-x

Candidate Requirements

Applicants must have completed, or be soon to complete, a relevant Honours/Masters degree in chemistry, physics, mechanical/chemical engineering or equivalent at a high level (HD1 or 2.1 minimum or equivalent). Applicants will be considered if they fulfil the criteria for PhD admission at Monash University (including English language requirements) and demonstrate excellent research capability, with outstanding academic track records in chemistry or materials science. Further details are available here: https://www.monash.edu/science/schools/chemistry/postgraduate

Note that due to border restrictions, this position is open to candidates that are currently located within Australia and are an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold an appropriate student visa.

Further Information

Academic Supervisor: Dr Cameron L. Bentley

Remuneration: Successful applicants will receive $29,500 AUD per annum (2021 full-time rate, tax-free), a once-off relocation allowance of $1000 (interstate) or $1500 (international) and covers the cost of tuition (if applicable).

Employment Type: Full-time

Commencement: 2021

Contact: cameron.bentley@monash.edu, attaching a copy of your curriculum vitae (CV), including a list of any published works; academic transcripts (university level qualifications) and; IELTS/TOEFL English test results (if applicable).