PhD Scholarship Opportunity – Safe and Sustainable Electrolytes for Next-Generation Rechargeable Metal Batteries Full-time

PhD Scholarship Opportunity – Safe and Sustainable Electrolytes for Next-Generation Rechargeable Metal Batteries

Applications are sought from outstanding candidates for PhD study in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering, Monash University.

We are seeking highly motivated PhD candidates to undertake research on the design and development of safe and sustainable electrolyte materials for advanced energy storage systems. The project addresses key challenges in post-lithium battery technologies and focuses on the development of innovative electrolyte materials for next-generation rechargeable metal batteries.

Research directions include:

• Advanced electrolytes for rechargeable multivalent batteries
• Development of low-cost electrolyte systems for multivalent and emerging battery chemistries, including calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn).
• Investigation of electrolyte formulations that enable stable metal cycling, minimise interfacial passivation, and improve energy density and cycling performance.
• Polymer electrolytes for solid-state metal batteries
• Design and synthesis of novel solid polymer electrolytes.
• Improving interfacial stability, suppressing dendrite formation, and enabling high-performance solid-state metal batteries.

The successful candidate will employ synthetic chemistry, advanced materials characterisation, and electrochemical evaluation to establish structure-property relationships and develop high-performance battery systems. The project is conducted within a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary, and internationally connected research environment at Monash University.

Applicants with backgrounds in one or more of the following are encouraged to apply:

• Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Polymer Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage or closely related disciplines

Desirable experience includes:

• Battery electrolytes, ionic liquids or solid polymer electrolytes
• Organic synthesis and/or polymer chemistry
• Electrochemical testing and analysis
• Materials characterisation techniques
• Strong scientific writing and communication skills

Applicants will be considered provided they satisfy the admission requirements for a PhD at Monash University and demonstrate excellent research capability. Successful applicants should:

• Hold (or be close to completing) a Bachelor Honours (H1 or equivalent) and/or Master's degree with an excellent academic record.
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Show the ability to conduct independent, self-motivated research while working effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Candidates who are in the process of completing their H1 degree will be considered.
• Applicants who already hold a PhD degree will not be considered.

Clayton campus, Monash University