University of Central Lancashire
Research Project/Studentship Description
Project ref: RS/15/02
School
Centre
Proposed Director of Studies
Contact Details
Programme (e.g MPhil/PhD)
Duration of Studentship
Hours (Full or Part Time)
Closing Date: 05/06/2015
Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences
Jeremiah Horrocks Institute
Karen Syres
Email: ksyres@uclan.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1772 893850
PhD (via MPhil)
36 months
Full Time
Other Allowances (for non UCLan studentships)
Any Entry Requirements
Standard fees apply
£14,057 per annum for student stipend
Tuition Fees paid at Home/EU student rate
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See research student specification
(e.g. 2:1 classification/restricted to UK residences only)
Any Special Requirements (e.g. driving licence)
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Tuition Fees
Maintenance Grant
Project Title
Probing Surface Structure and Interactions of Ionic Liquids
Project Description
Ionic liquids (ILs) consist of ions held together by a strong Coulomb potential and can remain liquid up to
around 400 K. The combination of cations and anions can be tuned to create ILs with desired properties. ILs
have very low vapour pressures and as a result can be studied in ultra-high vacuum conditions. This has opened
up an exciting new avenue of research for liquid surface science. ILs are being investigated for applications
such as gas capture and separation, electrolyte in batteries and photovoltaic devices, catalysis, lubrication and
nanoparticle growth. There has been an explosion of research into ILs over the last few years but there is very
little research into the fundamental interactions of ILs at surfaces, which is important to many of their
applications.
In this project you will investigate the structure and interactions of ILs at surfaces and interfaces. You will
investigate how ILs interact with gas molecules with a view towards gas capture applications and you will
study the interaction of ILs with oxide surfaces (such as ZnO and TiO 2) with a view towards photovoltaic and
catalysis applications. You will use techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption
spectroscopy and diffraction techniques primarily at synchrotron facilities around Europe, to determine the
structure, bonding and charge dynamics at the interfaces. For the study of gas capture in ILs you will carry out
experiments at facilities which allow photoelectron spectroscopy measurements to be taken at near-ambient
pressures (~10 mbar). Near-ambient pressure photoelectron experiments are a recent development in surface
science and for this project they will create a more realistic environment where the IL is in dynamic equilibrium
with the surrounding gas.
Research Student Specification
Studentship Ref
Number
RS/15/02
Project Title:
Probing Surface Structure and Interactions of Ionic Liquids
School:
Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences
Contact:
ksyres@uclan.ac.uk
Attributes
Closing Date:
Essential
05/06/2015
Desirable
Measured By
Education/Qualifications
Good UK
undergraduate (2:1
or above)/
postgraduate degree
in Physics, Chemistry
or a related
subject.(or
equivalent
qualification)
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text.
Application
Experience
Experience in an
experimental
research project.
Experience using
vacuum equipment
and/or surface science
techniques.
Application
and interview
Skills/Abilities
Demonstrable
laboratory skills.
Good data analysis
skills.
Application
and interview
Ability to work
independently.
“hands-on” skills, for
example,
fixing/building
equipment.
Good oral and
written
communication
skills.
Personal Details
Enthusiastic about
scientific research.
Ability to work to
deadlines.
Willingness to carry
out experiments at
synchrotron
facilities.
Willingness to
present work at
conferences and
seminars.
Ability to show
initiative.
Application
and interview