Research Studentship in Characterisation of Battery Safety Under Extreme Conditions, University of Oxford

3.5-year DPhil studentship 

Supervisors: Prof Paul Shearing

High performance batteries have revolutionized modern life, from consumer electronics to electric vehicles and grid scale energy storage. Whilst thermal failure of batteries is rare, under conditions of mechanical, electrical or thermal abuse, thermal runaway reactions can be initiated. There is a pressing need to better understand the Science of Battery Failure, to further reduce failure rates and enable increasingly demanding applications. This is particularly true for emerging ‘next generation’ battery chemistries, including Li-sulfur and solid state batteries, where there is lower technical maturity.

In this project, aligned with The Faraday Institution’s Safebatt Programme, we will apply a portfolio of experimental techniques to better understand the safety characteristics of next generation batteries. This includes a range of laboratory tests (for example calorimetry) to establish the thermal behavior of batteries under simulated abusive conditions, alongside advanced materials characterisation tools (including electron and X-ray imaging). Collectively, these tools will enable us to establish the State of Safety for emerging battery technologies, and accelerate their deployment.

Eligibility

This studentship is funded by The Department of Engineering Science and is associated with the Faraday Institution SafeBatt project. The studentship is open to Home students (full award – home fees plus stipend).

Award Value

Course fees are covered at the level set for Home students c. £10,470 p.a. The stipend (tax-free maintenance grant) is c. £21,805 p.a. for the first year, and at least this amount for a further two and a half years.

Candidate Requirements