Cohort 4 Students

Bethany Willis 

My undergraduate studies in Physics at Northumbria University introduced me to the many applications and future potential of renewable energy, this intrigued and inspired me to take part in the research involved surrounding this area of science. My PhD specialises in the manufacturing and analysis of creating sustainable solar cells and investigating their potential applications. This will be done through carrying out life cycle assessments of various solar cells then creating and testing these cells in the labs. The combination of theory and experiment in this project motivates me because it means my research can be applied to or used to support a wider variety of further research in the future. Being able to test out different scenarios via simulation and calculation whilst also collecting experimental data from the lab to support or question these simulations is interesting and provides me with a broader range of skills and preparing me for the future beyond my PhD.

I chose RENU because I think that working alongside other professionals is extremely important. I believe that the collaboration between partner universities and RENU students from other cohorts is key for the success of the research we each carry out as individuals. With a common goal in mind and grouped perseverance, the research from the team as a whole is likely to have a greater impact on the world around us.

Project Title:Manufacturing of sustainable solar cells

Supervisor: Prof Neil Beattie

This PhD project investigates the various fabrication and manufacturing techniques used for the production of thin film, second generation photovoltaics (PV) like CdTe (Cadmium telluride) CIGS (Copper indium gallium sulphide) or CZTS (Copper zinc tin sulphide).

The sustainability of each process will be evaluated using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) software called SimaPro which will provide data based on the environmental impact of different processes. These environmental impacts can range from human toxicity to global warming potential, ozone layer depletion, acidification, eutrophication, abiotic depletion and more. This allows for comparison between different techniques and materials used.

There are different types of LCA, some are Cradle-to-Gate where the life cycle considered is all stages up to the end of manufacturing (mining, transport, manufacturing), Cradle-to-Grave which also includes the use and disposal of the product, Cradle-to-Cradle which also included the potential impacts of recycling the different parts of the product. It is more uncommon for Cradle-to-Cradle LCA for PV systems due to the insufficient reliable data. Many assumptions also need to be made when conducting an LCA, for example the life-time of the solar panel, the way that materials are transported from their extraction to the manufacturing stage, the percentage of product that is recyclable and more. A sensitivity analysis will be used to compare different methods used to carry out the LCA and validate the accuracy of the results.

To improve the LCA, experiments will be carried out alongside the LCA investigations where the fabrication of a sustainable solar cell can be completed and real data can be collected for use within the SimaPro software. This means a fully functional solar cell can be produced and it allows for the evaluation of the quality of this solar cell that has been created with sustainability as the central focus.

The outcomes of this research have the potential to be applied to other researchers work to show that techniques that they are using can be considered as sustainable. For example, for research which involves the fabrication of solar cells using inkjet printing or the same nanoparticle ink the authors can include parts of this research which describe the environmental impacts of using such materials and processes. With the rapidly increasing capacity and demand for solar power and rapidly decreasing availability for raw resources, sustainability is quickly becoming an important factor in all aspects of research.

The main aim of this project it to use LCA to find, currently, the most sustainable method of producing a functioning thin-film solar cell. This links closely to one of the priorities expressed by the UKRI of engineering net zero and the idea that the findings of this project can be used for a step towards green energy production.

Beyond the single solar cell, work can advance onto looking at the sustainability when these solar cells are integrated into products and buildings and how effective this idea is for the future of PV.

This project is supported by a number of universities and partners in the North East of England as part of the RENU doctorial training programme, primarily Northumbria University, Newcastle University and Durham University as well as collaborations with the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Physics.

Muhammed Rishan K K 

I secured my Bachelor’s in Chemistry (Hons.) from Delhi University, India in 2020. Then I moved to the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NIT-K Surathkal), India to do my master’s and in 2022 and I post-graduated in Chemistry with a distinction grade. The research exposure I had in my Master’s played a key role in intriguing me to perform Ph.D. I was working in the Organic synthesis and catalysis lab to synthesize bioactive pyrazole-based organic molecules through dipolar cyclo-addition-based synthetic methodologies. Through this project, I gained various analytical and characterization skills including NMR, IR, XRD and Chromatography. After a six-month term on this project, I submitted my master’s thesis titled ‘Trifluoroacetic acid-mediated annulation of Acrylamide / Acrylonitrile with Hydrazones’.

After my master’s, I got placed as a chemical analyst in a pharma industry. But, I was more inclined towards research with an ambition that I should explore more in academia. It was some life experience that triggered me to work on renewable energetics as a means to tackle the world’s biggest challenge of climate change. Fortunately, I found the best opportunity to work in my interested area, that’s ReNU. At Northumbria, I will be working with a research team principally supervised by Dr. Shafeer Kalathil on a project to develop a photo-biohybrid system to produce solar fuels and chemicals from CO2 and H2O by harvesting sunlight. In order to successfully defend with PhD., I am sure that I would be much benefited from the opportunities at ReNU.

Project Title – A living bionic leaf to produce solar fuels and chemicals from carbon dioxide

Supervisor –  Shafeer Kalathil (PI), Prof. Elizabeth A Gibson (Co-PI), Dr. Martin Hayes (Johnson Matthey)

Solar energy is the most abundant renewable energy source available on earth, yet efficiently storing it in a usable and transportable form remains a major scientific challenge. One promising approach is artificial photosynthesis, which aims to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuels and chemicals, similar to the way plants use sunlight to produce biomass. Developing technologies that transform CO2 into useful products could help close the human-driven carbon cycle while providing sustainable routes to energy and chemicals. My research explores semi-artificial photosynthesis, an emerging strategy that combines synthetic light-harvesting materials with living microorganisms. In these hybrid systems, semiconductor materials capture sunlight and generate electrical charges (electron-hole pairs), while microbes use these electrons to perform complex chemical reactions with high selectivity. This interdisciplinary approach merges concepts from materials science, microbiology, and catalysis to develop new solar-to-chemical technologies.

The first part of my PhD focuses on designing a microbe–semiconductor biohybrid platform that converts CO2 into valuable organic molecules. In this work, a copper-based semiconductor (Cu2ZnSnS4) is integrated with the CO2-fixing bacterium Sporomusa ovata. Under light illumination, the system produces simple chemicals such as acetate and ethanol from CO2. These molecules can then be further upgraded through microbial fermentation using Clostridium species to produce longer-chain fatty acids such as butyrate and caproate, which are important precursors for fuels and industrial chemicals.

The second part of my research investigates solar-driven methane production using methanogenic microorganisms. By combining an organic semiconductor with methane-producing archaea (Methanosarcina species), the system enables sunlight-powered conversion of CO2 into methane. At the same time, the process can drive oxidation reactions that transform alcohols into value-added chemical products. This work is carried out in collaboration with researchers at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, bringing together expertise in materials chemistry and microbial catalysis. To further advance this collaborative project, I was also awarded a research collaboration grant from the Solar Chemicals Network (EPSRC), which supports ongoing efforts to develop and consolidate this solar-driven biohybrid platform. Overall, this research aims to develop sustainable solar-powered technologies that convert CO2 into useful fuels and chemicals, contributing to future low-carbon energy systems and circular carbon economies. Overall, this research aims to develop sustainable solar-powered technologies that convert CO2 into useful fuels and chemicals, contributing to future low-carbon energy systems and circular carbon economies.

Will Tetlow 

After studying my undergraduate degree in physics at Northumbria University, I graduated with first class honours in 2022. My final-year project focussed on the hydrophobicity of droplets freezing on different smart surfaces to help improve the safety and efficiency of engineering structures in cold climates. This process involved experimental work with droplets of multiple solutions on unique thin films and then the respective computational analysis of my results.

My PhD project within ReNU is focussed on new methods for synthesising promising chalcogenide perovskite materials for use in solar cells. This project aims to help improve the safety and sustainability, and reduce the negative environmental effects, of preparing and synthesising perovskite solar cells.

Developing new methods for the fabrication of renewable technology is an exciting prospect and one that will help the necessary transition to sustainable, green energy.

Project Title – New synthetic routes for the preparation of chalcogenide perovskite materials

Supervisor – Marc Etherington

This PhD project investigates the synthesis and deposition of barium sulfide (BaS), a versatile inorganic material with applications in pollution management, semiconductor devices, and next-generation solar cells. The research focuses on developing low-temperature, low-emission routes to produce BaS as a bulk powder and as thin films, making the material more accessible and sustainable for use in industry and in research.

Traditionally, BaS powder has been produced via high-temperature carbothermal reduction, a process requiring furnace temperatures in excess of 1100 °C and generating significant quantities of harmful by-products including carbon dioxide (CO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). This project has developed an alternative solid-state synthesis route capable of producing phase-pure BaS powder at temperatures as low as 500°C. This dramatic decrease in processing temperature is accompanied by an approximately 80% reduction in harmful gaseous emissions, representing a meaningful improvement in the sustainability of BaS production.

BaS powder has several important applications. In environmental contexts, BaS is an effective agent for the removal of heavy metals and sulfates from contaminated water, exploiting its reactivity to precipitate harmful ions out of solution. In research settings, BaS is a convenient and reactive source of barium and sulfur for further chemical synthesis. It can also be used to generate hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).

The second strand of this research extends BaS into thin film form through solution-based processing. Precursor solutions are deposited onto substrates via spin coating, applying a thin, uniform layer across a surface. Followed by annealing at 500°C to convert the precursor into crystalline BaS. This relatively low processing temperature allows for compatibility with a broader range of substrates and reduces the energy cost of film production. Thin film BaS opens up a wider range of applications than bulk powder. It has uses in electronic and optoelectronic devices, including as a phosphor material for display or lighting technologies.

Of particular interest is the use of BaS thin films as precursor layers for the synthesis of barium zirconium sulfide (BaZrS₃), an emerging perovskite material with strong potential for use in solar cells. Chalcogenide perovskites are attracting considerable research attention for next-generation photovoltaics due to their favourable optical properties and stability.

Together, these two research strands advance the practical accessibility of BaS as both a functional material and a stepping stone to more complex sulfide compounds. The outcomes of this work are relevant to researchers working in solar energy, semiconductor fabrication, and water treatment, and contribute to the broader goal of developing cleaner, more sustainable materials processing routes.

Tesfay Berhe Gebreegziabher 

I received my undergraduate degree in Biological and Chemical Engineering from Mekelle University, Ethiopia and I earned my research-based master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Pukyong National University, South Korea. I have been very passionate about energy and the environment since the final year of my undergraduate degree during which I worked on the production of bioenergy from lignocellulosic biomass via hydrolysis and fermentation. During my master’s degree study, I extended my research to the synthesis of biomass-based porous carbon for the adsorption of various indoor air pollutant gases. Currently, I am a ReNU CDT doctoral researcher at Northumbria University. My ReNU CDT project proposes a carbon-based hydrogen storage system to achieve a net-zero carbon economy. The ReNU CDT program appeals to me due to the fact that it combines an individual research project and wide range of additional professional trainings, which make it the best of its kind.

Project Title  – Biomass-based Carbon for Hydrogen Storage

Supervisor: Dr. Yolanda Sanchez Vicente, Dr. Dominika Zabiegaj, and Dr. Roni Pini

Nowadays, due to the worsening climate change and energy crisis, the need for alternative energy sources is vital. Hydrogen has emerged as one of the green energy carriers. However, its shipment and storage have been the challenges. Experts have managed to store hydrogen in underground cavities, pressure tanks, and liquid hydrogen. However, these storage systems suffer from several setbacks such as limited storage capacity, low energy efficiency, high cost, and safety concerns.

To overcome the above setbacks, reliable, safe, and efficient alternative technologies, which provide large gravimetric capacity at ambient conditions are crucial. Hence, due to the rapid release of hydrogen on demand, natural abundance of raw material, and the good track record of regeneration, hydrogen storage in porous carbons is regarded as a promising technology. Despite the emergence of promising reports of hydrogen storage capacities in carbon material, no material is yet to meet the market standards set by the US Department of Energy. To date, unprecedented efforts have been made to maximize the hydrogen adsorption potential of porous carbons at ambient conditions. Among these methods, hydrogen spillover and heteroatom doping are believed to improve the hydrogen storage potential of carbon-based materials at ambient conditions. Reports show that metal-doped porous carbon revealed a significant improvement in hydrogen uptake capacity due to the hydrogen spillover effect. This project will deeply analyse the synergistic effect of wmetal decoration and heteroatom doping on the hydrogen storage potential of different biomass-based carbons like spent coffee, nut shell, and corncob.

The major objectives will be to:

• Synthesize different biomass-derived activated carbons for hydrogen storage.
• Enhance the hydrogen uptake capacity of the porous carbon by doping with transition metals and heteroatoms.
• Characterise and analyze the properties of the porous carbon for its morphology, porosity, textural properties, thermal stability, and reusability.
• Develop mathematical models of the adsorption isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic properties of biomass-derived carbon.

Porous carbon synthesis procedure and hydrogen adsorption

First, a biomass precursor will be washed with distilled water and dried at hot air oven. Then, the dried biomass precursor will be pyrolyzedin a horizontal electric furnace and heated to 400 and 450 °C in a stream of argon gas. Then, the carbonized samples will be impregnated into a potassium hydroxide and transferred to a horizontal electric furnace, and activated at a temperature of 800 and 850 °C. Finally, the activated carbon samples will be washed with distilled water and dried. The prepared porous carbon will then be doped with different transition metals (Ni, Pt, Ni) and heteroatoms (N2, B, O2).

Hydrogen adsorption experiments and characterisation of porous carbon

To evaluate the hydrogen adsorption potential of the porous carbon the manometric/Sievert’s method will be used. Then, the spent activated carbon will be reused repeatedly in several cycles to test the reuse of the porous carbon.  The synthesized porous carbons will be characterized using different characterisation techniques such as proximate and elemental analysis, surface morphology, textural properties, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis.

This project is believed to have a substantial contribution to the development of novel carbon hydrogen storage materials for ambient operating condition applications toward achieving a hydrogen-based economy.

Expertise: Hydrogen storage, porous materials synthesis and characterisation, molecular dynamics simulations (LAMMPS), adsorption.

Tunde Okeowo 

I have a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from LAUTECH in Nigeria, a master’s degree in Safety, Health and Environmental Management from Northumbria University in Newcastle, and a decade of industry experience. The CDT offers me a unique opportunity to carry out applied research cross-pollinated by interdisciplinary interactions within the Engineering and Environmental Sciences. My keen interest in this PhD is born from my interest in global sustainability, environmental management, and a desire for applied research with significant community impact. My current research is focused on reduction of air pollution and carbon emissions reduction in urban hospital environments.

Project Title – Sustainable Approaches to Reducing Air Pollution and Carbon Emissions in Urban Hospital Environment
Supervisor – Dr Michael Deary

Carbon emissions and air pollution are closely interconnected challenges, often arising from shared sources such as transportation, agriculture, heating, power generation, and construction. Interventions targeting one of these issues frequently influence the other. Addressing them in an integrated manner therefore presents an opportunity for co-benefits across climate and public health domains.

The environmental impacts of carbon emissions and anthropogenic air pollution are well established (Yu, Wei et al. 2018, Udara Willhelm Abeydeera, Wadu Mesthrige et al. 2019, Roletto, Zanardo et al. 2024). More recently, the human health consequences of air pollution have gained significant global attention, with evidence attributing up to 7 million premature deaths annually to poor air quality (World Health Organisation 2025). In the UK, the landmark case of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah marked the first time air pollution was officially recorded as a cause of death (Barlow 2021). Exposure to air pollution has been linked to increased hospital admissions and the exacerbation of conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and other adverse health outcomes. These impacts affect all age groups and socio-demographic backgrounds, although certain populations are disproportionately vulnerable.

The UK has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with interim targets driving action across sectors. Healthcare systems are critical stakeholders in this transition. The National Health Service (NHS) is responsible for approximately 4–6% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. In England, more than 3% of road traffic is attributable to NHS-related activities, positioning healthcare as both a contributor to emissions and a key actor in mitigation efforts. Moreover, while hospitals treat pollution-related illnesses, healthcare operations themselves may contribute to environmental burdens that worsen public health outcomes. Improving air quality within and around hospitals is therefore essential. Over 2000 healthcare facilities are located in urban areas where ambient air quality does not consistently meet World Health Organization (WHO) guideline levels (Public Health England 2018), potentially making hospital environments local pollution hotspots. Although national monitoring networks provide data on pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), and other harmful emissions, there is limited granular data on pollution exposure within healthcare environments. This gap often necessitates reliance on predictive modelling rather than direct measurement.

Recognising the multifaceted nature of hospital-related emissions, the Clean Air Hospital Framework (CAHF) was co-designed by Global Action Plan and Great Ormond Street Hospital (Transport for London 2020, Global Action Plan 2022). The framework addresses seven key influence areas: Travel, Construction, Procurement, Energy Generation, Local Air Quality, Communication and Training, and Outreach and Leadership (Okeowo, Dixon et al. 2025). While the CAHF provides a structured, self-directed approach for NHS hospitals seeking to improve air quality, there has been limited quantitative evaluation of its effectiveness in delivering measurable air quality improvements. This project seeks to address this evidence gap by supporting the implementation of sustainable pollution-reduction strategies through the CAHF, alongside the deployment and management of an integrated indoor and ambient air quality monitoring network at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust(Okeowo, Dixon et al. 2025). The study will evaluate pollution hotspots, dispersion patterns, and temporal trends across the complex urban hospital environments of the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) and Freeman Hospital sites. These hospitals provide a representative case study of the challenges and opportunities associated with improving air quality in large urban healthcare estates.

In addition, the research will develop and apply predictive computational models to examine pollutant dispersion within the hospital environment. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Gaussian dispersion modelling approaches, the project will simulate airflow behaviour, pollutant transport, and concentration gradients across indoor and outdoor hospital microenvironments. These models will be iteratively refined using empirical monitoring data and used as decision-support tools to trial and stress-test potential pollution intervention strategies prior to real-world implementation. This virtual experimentation capability will enable evidence-based selection of the most effective interventions while reducing operational risk, cost, and unintended consequences. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), PM₁₀, and PM₂.₅ will serve as the primary air quality indicators. By combining real-world monitoring with framework implementation, this research aims to generate robust evidence on the effectiveness of structured clean air interventions in healthcare settings, supporting progress towards NHS sustainability goals while delivering co-benefits for patient, staff, and community health.

Jemma Cox 

Graduating from Newcastle University with an MChem degree in Chemistry, my third year of study focused upon ‘Solid State Batteries; The Future of Energy Storage?’ as part of the Dawson research group, under the supervision of Dr. James Dawson. This sparked my interest in the development of materials chemistry for a more sustainable future.

To expand my understanding of the research topic I remained with the Dawson group a further year, to study the solid electrolyte material LLZO for battery applications, predicting how changes in pressure and strain would affect the LLZO structure during cycling, utilising a range of computational modelling techniques to identify defects and molecular dynamics.

My chosen PhD encompasses the development of recyclable hybrid solid electrolytes, calling upon my existing knowledge in materials chemistry, with further progression within a lab-based environment. My research will involve the synthesis of ceramic/polymer hybrid solid electrolyte materials for applications within solid-state battery systems and will be characterized using various techniques such as solid-state NMR spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction.

Overseeing my research are Dr. Karen Johnston and Dr. Clare Mahon at Durham University with Dr. James Dawson of Newcastle University overseeing my use of computational techniques, including atomistic modelling and DFT calculations to understand the ion mobility within new solid-state electrolyte materials.

I am looking forward to the new learning I will gain as a part of the ReNU CDT and the networking opportunities across the three partnering institutions in similar fields of study.

Project Title - Exploring Pressure and Strain Effects in Argyrodite Solid Electrolytes for Enhanced Solid-State Batteries 

Supervision: Dr James A. Dawson 

The global push for sustainable energy solutions has highlighted the need for safer, more efficient alternatives to conventional lithium-ion batteries. This research focuses on solid-state batteries, specifically investigating argyrodite materials - promising candidates due to their high ionic conductivity, stability, and compatibility with various electrodes. Using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) and density functional theory (DFT), the project explores how pressure and strain influence the structural and electrochemical properties of argyrodites. By understanding these relationships, the study aims to unlock improvements in battery energy density, lifespan, and safety, paving the way for next-generation energy storage solutions to support renewable energy integration.

Jessica Bedward  

I graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2021 with a First Class Masters in Chemistry. My MChem project involved the synthesis and characterisation of novel calcium based double-double perovskites, as part of the Attfield group. After graduating, I stepped into industry, undertaking a 12-month R&D Internship at Procter & Gamble in Newcastle. At P&G I worked on the development of biodegradable, non-toxic antibacterial hard surface cleaners. Both projects were driven by the desire to create sustainable technologies with industrial applications, something I wish to pursue further during my PhD.

My ReNU project is focussed on utilising modified zeolite catalysts for bioethanol upgrading. Bioethanol is used globally as a gasoline additive to create a more renewable fuel; however, its use is limited due to ethanol’s low energy density and high miscibility with water. Butanol is more energy dense than ethanol, is noncorrosive, and has limited miscibility with water. As such, biobutanol is a promising alternative gasoline additive if large scale production is made possible. My project aims to modify zeolite catalysts with Lewis-acid framework sites and extra-framework metal sites to catalyse the ethanol to butanol cascade pathway.

The ReNU CDT offers fantastic opportunities for cross disciplinary training and has great local and global partners working in the field of renewable energy technologies. I look forward to developing my knowledge over the next 4 years as part of Cohort 4!

Project Title – Bioethanol Upgrading Catalysed by Multifunctional Zeolites
Supervisor – Dr Russell Taylor and Dr Karen Johnston

Mian Muhammad Faisal 

I accomplished my undergraduate at Department of Physics, University of Peshawar, Pakistan graduating in 2015 following a teaching experience of 1.5 years at Government College Peshawar. After one and a half years of teaching experience, I decided a return to academia and started my postgraduate at Faculty of Engineering Sciences, GIK Institute of Engineering and Technology, KP, Pakistan which is ranked among the top engineering universities in Pakistan. My MS degree was fully funded by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) under NRPU project and GIK Institute. My master’s degree research was focused on utilizing Novel Electrode Materials for Supercapattery Devices supervised by Dr. Muhammad Zahir Iqbal (Associate Professor, FES, GIK Institute). I accomplished my MS degree in September 2020 with the success of publishing my MS research in Q1 category journals. In October 2020 I received an offer of joining Riphah International University, Pakistan (Lahore campus) as a Physics lecturer and I continued my career by engaging in teaching and research activities.

In 2022 I have been conferred an offer from Durham University, England under the Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU), Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) program Cohort-4 to pursue my doctoral studies and I decided to join Michael Hunt’s lab in the Department of Physics. My Ph.D. is focused on sustainable energy storage, specifically the investigation of green and sustainable materials for use in energy storage technologies, emphasizing supercapacitors or any member of this family. Two approaches will be adopted: (1) development of sustainable composite electrodes incorporating pseudocapacitive materials in which faradaic processes store charge in addition to the electric double layer. (2) Surface functionalization as a route to substantially increasing the aqueous electrolyte voltage window. A range of analytical techniques, widely used in materials science, chemistry, and physics will be employed in the project including electrochemical analysis, analytical electron microscopy, tomography, and Raman spectroscopy giving a thorough background in basic techniques appropriate for energy materials. The interdisciplinary program of ReNU CDT and the worldwide ranking of Durham University were the key reasons that attracted me to join this amazing opportunity which focuses on renewable resources and the urgency surrounding the global problem of climate change. With the support of the ReNU program, training services, and brilliant minds at Durham University, I am excited to learn new skills that will help me to pursue a career in renewable energy and applied physics.

Project Title – Green and sustainable electrochemical energy storage
Supervisor – Dr Michael Hunt

Sam Power 

I graduated from Newcastle University in July 2021, where I obtained an integrated master’s degree in chemistry. My master’s project focused on developing polyoxometalate-stabilised metal nanoparticles for plasmonic catalysis, which allowed me to develop my interests in both catalysis and sustainable chemistry. After taking a year out to work for Reckitt Benckiser and to travel, I decided to return to Newcastle and undertake a PhD in energy materials to further develop my passion for renewable energy technologies.

My research focuses on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of materials for applications in anion-exchange membrane (AEM) fuel cells and electrolysers. I have developed a range of cationic head groups and assessed their alkaline stability. Alongside this, I have conducted computational investigations to better understand the degradation mechanisms involved and to elucidate the impact of hydroxide solvation upon degradation rates and pathways. With stable and competitive headgroups identified, emphasis has shifted towards the fabrication of membranes, ionomers and electrodes to evaluate the performance of materials in AEM devices.

The ReNU CDT stood out to me due to the wide variety of training in the renewable energy sector it offers to its students, as well as the unique multidisciplinary nature of the projects. This will allow me to develop a unique skillset by applying my knowledge of chemistry to practical, real-world technologies.

Project Title – Stability-Driven Design of Anion-Exchange Polyelectrolytes

Supervisor – Dr Simon Doherty and Prof Mohamed Mamlouk

 

There is a current worldwide interest in the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change as well as meet the global demand for energy. Green hydrogen is likely to play an important part in this transition as it has a high energy density (120 MJ/kg) and can be produced sustainably using water electrolysers powered by a renewable source of energy (e.g. wind or solar). Green hydrogen is then stored and used in a fuel cell or in a gas turbine when required to produce clean and sustainable electricity.

Anion-exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysers are seen as a promising way forward as they use non-noble metal electrocatalysts which reduce the overall cost of devices quite significantly. The AEM is typically a solid polymer electrolyte that consists of a cationic head group tethered to a polymer backbone. The cationic head groups are a key component of AEM based devices as they are the counterions that facilitate the movement of hydroxide ions i.e. conductivity. However, headgroups are susceptible to degradation under alkaline conditions used in AEM electrolysers. As such their stability in the alkaline environment will determine the lifetime of the device, which must operate at high temperatures and high pH for tens of thousands of hours.

This project focuses on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of cationic headgroups and different AEM materials to test whether they are promising candidates for use in a fuel cell or electrolyser. A range of cationic head groups have been developed, and their alkaline stability has been assessed to determine their lifetime under electrolyser operating conditions. Alongside this, computational investigations are conducted to better understand the degradation mechanisms involved and to elucidate the impact of varying alkaline conditions upon degradation rates and pathways.

With stable and competitive headgroups identified, novel methods of incorporating these headgroups into various polymer backbones have been developed and scaled, leading to the fabrication of AEMs and assessment of their performance in AEM electrolysers.

James Ramsey 

In 2021 graduated from Lancaster University with a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in Physics (2017-2021). During my final year, I researched the two-dimensional semi-metal material graphene, specifically one of its strange quantum properties known as quantum capacitance. I developed a keen interest for lower dimensional materials during this time, particularly semiconductors, and hence upon finding this PhD project on the topic of Atomically Thin Photovoltaics at Newcastle University I was immediately enthralled as it drew together all the interests I had discovered during my master’s degree.

I am excited to research under the ReNU CDT programme, not only for reasons just mentioned, but because it provides an excellent opportunity to make connections, utilise some of the combined resources of the participating universities, and also frames my research in the context of renewables which aligns very well with my core values of sustainability and environmental conservation.

Project Title – Ab-Initio Quantum Mechanical Modelling of Atomically Thin Photovoltaics
Supervisor – Prof Jonathan Goss

Joseph Thomas 

I started my studies at Coventry University completing my Bachelor of Science in Maths and Physics. My Bachelors dissertation was on multi-state Ising spin models applied to modelling Phase transitions in materials; this helped to foster my interest in materials. I then went to study a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an advanced practice year at Northumbria. Having passed the first year, I moved onto the placement section where I had secured a research placement at Durham University modelling liquid crystal and I attended a lecture set on ferroelectric and multi-ferroic materials. After completing my placement, I started my master’s dissertation which was on using density functional theory to analyse the potential of new material as solid-state electrolytes which got me interested in applying my passion in materials to renewable technologies.

My project for ReNU is on using atomistic simulations to develop new polymer membranes for use in proton exchange membrane water electroylsers. These new polymer membranes will be developed to run at higher temperatures than currently used membranes. I’m really looking forward to working in the CDT with a bunch of likeminded individuals who are as passionate about renewable technologies as myself

Project Title –Using machine-learned potentials to develop high temperature membranes for proton exchange water electrolysis

Supervisor – Dr Lu Xing

Renewable energy is an important part of the net zero transition. However due to the intermittent nature of renewable power such as solar and wind power, energy storage will also be an important part of this transition. While lithium ion batteries have allowed power densities much greater than any seen before for batteries, such that electric vehicles are now a common sight they have limitations. While lithium batteries are excellent for short term and regularly cycled energy storage, if left charged for a long period they can suffer from degradation issues. This leaves them unsuitable for longer term energy storage. Hydrogen gas generated from water electrolysers powered by renewable energy, could be a way of helping to store excess energy from renewable sources for longer term storage. Hydrogen gas can also be used as a replacement for natural gas in hard to electrify areas, such as virgin steel production. Reducing the cost of the proton exchange membranes water electrolyser (PEMWE) units is an important issue as well as moving away from the PFAS based membranes (typically Nafion) common in PEMWE. By increasing the temperature of the water splitting above 100C we can remove the need for expensive noble metal catalysts. A new membrane polymer will be needed that can operate at this temperature that is not a PFAS based material. Polybenzimidazole’s are a family of imidazole based ionically conductive polymers with high glass transition temperatures. They have been shown to have potential as membranes for PEMWE but lack ionic conductivity equivalent to Nafion membranes. In my project I will use atomic level computer simulations and application of machine-learned forcefields to develop new modified membranes based on polybenzimidazole with higher accuracy than previously capable. These new membranes will have ionic conductivity equivalent or higher than Nafion while also having greater mechanical strength and a higher glass transition temperature than Nafion.

Jake Forsyth-Hughes 

I studied my bachelor’s degree in physics at Northumbria university. During this degree I learned about semiconductors and understood their aggregate behaviours by analysing them on an atomic level. Such information was very interesting and so I decided to pursue this further in my dissertation. For my dissertation I studied a material called zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) via simulation and why crystal defects of low and high formation energies effected the efficiencies of zinc phosphide cells. I did this by decoupling all factors and added each one to an ideal cell model one by one to see their individual effects. I was very intrigued by the facts that I learned and wanted to increase my knowledge on material behaviours.

Pursuing a PhD in photovoltaics will help me to understand a wide range of devices such as LEDS, transistors and batteries and so is not just limited to solar cells. To know about material behaviours at the atomic level will allow me to explain better the science of everyday life. The field of photovoltaics requires this knowledge in order to understand the workings of a solar cell. It is for this reason that I decided at the end of my degree to do a PhD with ReNU on a material for photovoltaics. This PhD will help me to clarify misunderstandings about material properties that I was taught in my degree as well as increasing my knowledge material behaviours.

Project Title – Understanding the effect of the sulphurisation rate on (Bismuth sulphide) Bi2S3 films prepared by thermal vapour sulphurisation of sputtered bismuth precursors

Supervisor – Dr Devendra Tiwari and Prof. Guillaume Zoppi

 

My PhD project focuses on controlling the structural and electrical properties of bismuth sulphide (Bi2S3) films by reacting bismuth metal directly with sulphur. Like zinc phosphide, is a promising candidate for solar devices due to its optimal light absorption and suitable electrical properties. However, current solar device performance remains poor, with efficiencies typically under 2%. Several factors contribute to this low efficiency, largely rooted in the poor crystallinity of commonly reported films. Even those with higher crystalline quality often suffer from a high density of defects that further degrade performance. For effective solar applications, films must be highly crystalline and smooth, with minimal roughness and a low defect density. A particularly interesting property of Bi2S3 is its anisotropic electrical conductivity, which varies depending on the crystal orientation. It is therefore critical to control the growth direction of the crystals as they form from the bismuth metal. While the most common production methods involve solution processing such as chemical bath deposition (CBD) or spray pyrolysis—or vapour deposition techniques, there is very little reported on films synthesized through the direct sulphurisation of the metal. Two processes occur during sulphurisation at a specific temperature: the chemical reaction and the annealing stage (crystal growth resulting from high-temperature exposure) of the films. The first process (the chemical reaction) is governed by the ramp time (the duration taken to reach the target temperature), the vapour pressure of the sulphur (determined by its concentration and temperature), and the overall reaction temperature; This is a critical stage to control, as it can dictate the final film quality even if the films are annealed for an extended period. Whilst there are studies that use this method to synthesise other metal sulphides such as those of tin, iron and antimony, most generally focus on optimising the annealing stages by varying the sulphurisation temperature and duration. Little research has been presented on how the sulphur vapour affects the final film quality. Studies that do investigate this tend to focus mainly on the removal of oxide phases and improving crystallinity to eliminate defects found in sulphur-deficient films; however, they do not link these effects directly to the reaction rate. This PhD research provides insight into the importance of controlling the chemical reaction stage when producing Bi2S3 films or other sulphide films via thermal vapour sulphurisation. Such findings will help produce sulphide films of better quality for their further development in photovoltaic research.

David Roughton-Reay 

Material Physics and problem solving related to engineering has been a key interest of mine prior to my undergraduate and masters degree. Throughout my studies at Northumbria University, I became very interested in the mechanics of Photovoltaics and the problem solving related to their function and application. My other main interest during my time at Northumbria was in fluid dynamics, specifically liquid interference and how a fluid’s characteristics can be characterised and manipulated. Which is an aspect heavily linked to this project, where the majority of the research will be in fluid manipulation to create Bio-Inspired structures which are able to be integrated into solar cells as contacts. A PhD such as this is worth pursuing due to its promising impact on the overall cost and energy consumption in PV construction. The CDT ReNU programme is a brilliant opportunity to merge my academic interest with a passion for renewable energy whilst benefiting from a collaborative research programme. I look forward to being an active member of this research area and cohort.

Project Title – Bio-inspired electrodes for energy transport applications in renewable energy devices
Supervisor – Dr Prashant Agrawal