About the project
This research project focuses on developing novel in-situ techniques for nanocrystal electron diffraction experiments. It's associated with the new National Electron Diffraction Facility (part of the UK National Cystallography Service).
The work will investigate variable temperature phase transitions, tracking changes in the structure of materials during heating and cooling. It will also involve exploring adsorption in porous materials and reactivity in catalysis. As a researcher on this project, you'll be working on one of the world's first instruments dedicated to electron diffraction, an emergent technique for routinely determining crystal structures of nanocrystals, conducting structural investigations with a range of gases (pure and mixtures) on adsorption in MOFs and molecular coordination compounds and framework materials as they undertake catalytic reactions.
This methodology is currently unavailable anywhere in the world and you will be at the forefront of developing it. The work will produce ground-breaking results, leading to entirely new insights into important gas storage, catalysis and energy materials – addressing some of the fundamental problems facing society today.
A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent) is required for this project. This position is available to UK students only and would ideally commence in October 2023. For informal enquiries and further details please email Professor Simon Coles (s.j.coles@soton.ac.uk) or Dr Mark Light (m.e.light@soton.ac.uk), who will be the studentship supervisors.
