EngD International Studentship Manufacturing lithium batteries for operation at high temperature

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Academic Supervisors:  Dr Rohit Bhagat and Richard Dashwood

Project Overview:

WMG and HGMCC  are seeking a top class candidate to undertake research leading to the award of an International Engineering Doctorate from the University of Warwick.

As a ‘Research Entrepreneur’ on our International Doctorate programme you will have unrivalled access to some of the best teaching and industrial expertise in the world.  You will emerge from the four-year programme more confident and better equipped to make a difference to your company and the global marketplace. 

This opportunity also provides a substantial tax free stipend equivalent to many graduate jobs.

Project

HMGCC is an organisation focussed on ensuring Government communications are highly effective and reliable.  As such, HMGCC has a requirement to develop and manufacture lithium batteries that are optimised to operate outside the normal restricted operational range stated by battery manufacturers.

The objectives of this project are to:

• Become familiar with the manufacture of lithium pouch cells and transfer this knowledge to bespoke cell formats for HMGCC.
• Evaluate trigger factors of cell swelling at high temperature (40 – 80°C) and over cell lifetime.
• Experiments to determine strategies for prevention of cell swelling or prediction of likelihood within a range of different cells
• Investigate how variables such as electrode porosity, particle size and thickness for example can be tailored to increase performance such as rate capability, safety or energy density to suit a particular end application.

This will be achieved through this EngD and use of WMG’s Energy Innovation Centre.

The Energy Innovation centre is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Technology Strategy Board through the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. It includes a battery manufacturing facility which allows intimate control of the materials, manufacture and assembly of lithium pouch cells and will be used by the student to deliver the research.

Background and Scope

Manufacturers recommend that their lithium batteries be operated in a restricted operational range i.e. state of charge (e.g. 30-75%), temperature (e.g. 10-50°C). When taken past these limits the lithium batteries can suffer reduction in performance, ageing and ultimately catastrophic failure.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants should have a good UK honours degree or equivalent, in a relevant discipline such as Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science or Engineering.

Experience of thermodynamics, batteries, electrochemistry or an MSc in a relevant subject is highly desirable.

Awards available: 1 award available.

Funding Details: Qualifying students receive an attractive enhanced stipend which could be tax and NI free depending on your personal circumstances, paid by the International Doctorate Centre and topped up by a contribution from HGMCC . For 2013 this totals approximately £19,000 tax free per annum.

The funding is for four years and will also cover University tuition fees and all course fees as well as a travel allowance to attend courses.

Length of Award: 4 years (EngD Int)

Eligibility: Due to funding restrictions the regulations regarding EPSRC funding require that applicants should be UK or EU nationals to be eligible for this position.

Application Details:

To apply please contact us at engd@warwick.ac.uk  or phone us on 024 765 24357

For further information, please visit: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/education/researchdegrees

Deadline: 31 October 2013