Our centre is committed to training our next generations of world-class researchers, leaders and innovators for Australia’s skilled workforce to tackle the ever-escalating socio-economic and industry challenges.
PhD Opportunities
Ph.D. Project – Engineering Metal Oxide-Carbon Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Nitrates Synthesis, UNSW Sydney.
Primary supervisor: Professor Rose Amal and Dr Denny Gunawan, UNSW Sydney.
Nitrates are essential in the modern chemical industry, widely used in fertilisers and various other applications. Current production methods require harsh conditions such as high temperatures, pressures, and energy-intensive plasma processes. These conventional processes heavily depend on coal and natural gas, leading to substantial carbon dioxide emissions. An emerging alternative is photocatalytic N2 oxidation, which uses solar energy for nitrates synthesis under ambient conditions. However, the unsatisfactory performance, attributed to the robust triple bond of N2 and its poor solubility in water, continues to hinder practical application. The project aims to develop a photocatalytic nitrates synthesis system using metal oxide-carbon nanocomposites. Various photocatalyst modification strategies – such as facet engineering, defect engineering, and cocatalyst deposition – will be explored to improve activity, selectivity, and stability. In addition, to address the issue of low N2 solubility in water, a gas phase photocatalytic reactor will be designed. The project will also investigate the reaction mechanisms and identify catalytically active sites using time- and space-resolved, as well as in-situ/operando characterisation techniques.
A background in materials synthesis, electrocatalysis, and materials characterisation would be beneficial, but not essential.
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Postdoctoral Research Opportunities