PhD Studentship: UKRI Net2Zero CDT (Industry-Sponsored by Nanodot Ltd.) - Energy Efficient Oxyfuel Combustion of Biomass Enabled by Oxygen Separation Membranes (ENG331)

Area Engineering 

Location UK Other 

Closing Date Thursday 30 April 2026 

 

Supervisors: Dr Ming Li, Prof. Hao Liu 

Programme Length:  Four years 

Contract Type: Full-time 

Prospective Start Date: October 2026 

 

The positions are filled in a first-in, first-served basis therefore we encourage early expression of interest. 

 

Net2Zero Centre for Doctoral Training 

 The EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Negative Emission Technologies for Net Zero (CDT in Net2Zero) is an equal partnership between Aston University (lead), University of Nottingham, Queen’s University Belfast, and University of Warwick. Through cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaboration, this CDT aims to tackle global challenges related to climate change and sustainability.  

 

Our four-year doctoral programme is training the next generation of research leaders tasked to remove greenhouse gases from the environment.  The CDT in Net2Zero focuses on the use of biomass to replace fossil fuels and removal (or capture) of CO2 from the atmosphere, with the potential to create new sources of fuels and chemicals. The centre’s expertise covers Direct Air Capture and CO2 Storage (DACCS), CO2 utilisation, biochar synthesis and utilisation, biomass transition to materials and chemicals, and biomass to energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) etc. 

 

Training and Development 

Through our research training programme, you will be able to: 

Develop a network with doctoral researchers, academia, government and industry. Access to cutting-edge facilitiesâ¯and opportunities for international collaboration, preparing you for a successful career in academia, industry, or policymaking. Carry out a training programme covering practical engineering, communication, entrepreneurship, and business skills to prepare students for diverse sectors. The CDT facilitates direct contact between students, industrial partners, policy makers, and third sector organisations to support future careers. You will have the opportunity of a three-month placement with industry, research collaborators or policymakers. 

 

Project Overview and Background  

Oxy-fuel combustion, where fuels are combusted in pure oxygen or a mixture of oxygen and flue gas (CO2), produce a flue gas with a high concentration of CO2 that allows easier sequestration without energy-intensive preprocessing. However, production of oxygen is an energy-intensive process. Industrial scale oxygen production today is still based on the conventional cryogenic distillation process developed around 1900. 

Mixed ionic-electronic conductors (MIECs) that display high oxide ion conductivity and electronic conductivity can be made into dense ceramic membranes. Such dense MIEC ceramic membranes allow oxygen ions but not nitrogen ions to pass through. They are capable of separating oxygen from air with 100% selectivity and reduced cost and energy penalty compared to the conventional cryogenic air separation technology. Oxy-fuel combustion coupled with oxygen separation membranes can provide an energy-efficient and low-cost CO2 capture technology for fuel-combustion-based power plants.    

A longstanding challenge is to develop MIEC membranes with both high oxygen permeability and stability under operation conditions. For example, the state-of-the-art Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ (BSCF) exhibits the high oxygen permeability, but it suffers from high reactivity with CO2 and structural instability issues.  

This project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of energy efficient oxyfuel combustion of biomass enabled by oxygen separation membranes. The specific project objectives are (1) to develop high-performance and stable mixed oxide ion – electronic conductors; (2) to manufacture the conductors into ceramic tube membranes and (3) to conduct oxyfuel combustion of biomass fuels with the oxygen produced from the ceramic tube membranes.  

This project is in collaboration with additional support from Nanodot Ltd. As part of the programme, you will benefit from a comprehensive, interdisciplinary training programme and skills development, including the opportunity for an industrial placement with Nanodot Ltd. 

 

Person Specification 

 Essential: 

Ideal candidates should hold or expect to gain a first-class or an upper second-class honours degree (or their equivalent) or a 60% or higher weighted average MSc. Knowledge of Ceramic Manufacturing Experience in characterisation of: Electrical properties (ionic and electronic conductivity) Crystal structure and chemical composition 

 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of the Net2Zero CDT and we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. 

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in a higher education setting.  These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ people, and women. 

 

Financial Support 

Four-year studentships with a tax-free stipend at UKRI rate (£21,383 per year for 2026/27)  Paid tuition fees A generous research training support grant. 

 

Overseas Applicants 

This opportunity is currently open for home fee status candidates only. You can find the rules for home fee eligibilityâ¯here. 

 

How to Apply 

All applicants should first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form here (you only need to submit one Expression of Interest regardless of the number of projects you are interested in). Successful applicants will be invited to submit a formal application via the NottinghamHub. 

When submitting an EOI form, please include the following information: 

Your personal details for processing the application.  A copy of yourâ¯passport and, where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status. Your personal characteristics, for monitoring purposes only. Your Academic background.  We will require English language copies (or screen captures) of theâ¯transcripts and certificatesâ¯for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees. If English is not your first language, you will be required to present evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. You can submit the evidence at a later stage. the evidence at a later stage. Your research background and experience.  Expressions of Interest will be assessed against the following criteria:Candidate’s motivation and experience: The extent to which the candidate’s expertise, experience, and ambitions align with the goals of the Net2Zero CDT programme. If you are shortlisted, you will have the opportunity to meet the potential supervisors.

These studentships are open until filled, and hence early applications are strongly encouraged. 

 

Contact Information 

For general application or process enquiries, please contact: 

Beatrix Gateb (Senior CDT Administrator for Net2Zero CDT) at beatrix.gateb1@nottingham.ac.uk  

For academic enquiries, please contact:

Prof. Hao Liu (Co-Director of Net2Zero CDT) at liu.hao@nottingham.ac.uk  Prof. Eleanor Binner (Co-Director of Net2Zero CDT) at eleanor.binner@nottingham.ac.uk

 

 

 

 

Closing Date: 30 Apr 2026
Category: Studentships