Bath Engineering & Design Studentships: Sol-Gel Engineered Thermal Energy Storage Materials for Low-Carbon Buildings

This project is one of a number in competition for a studentship from the Faculty of Engineering and Design at the University of Bath. If successful, this studentship is expected to commence 04 October 2027.

An alternative start date may be possible if agreed with your intended supervisors and the Doctoral College.

Buildings are responsible for approximately 32% of global energy consumption and 40% of global CO₂ emissions, making them a critical sector in the transition towards a low-carbon future. Thermal Energy Storage Materials (TESMs), particularly Phase Change Materials (PCMs), offer a promising solution by storing and releasing heat as temperatures fluctuate, helping to maintain indoor thermal comfort while reducing reliance on active heating and cooling systems. However, challenges including leakage, durability, and long-term performance continue to limit their wider adoption in building applications.
This project will investigate the development of sol-gel engineered thermal energy storage materials for use in building envelopes. The sol-gel process provides a versatile low-temperature synthesis route capable of producing porous inorganic matrices that can encapsulate PCMs, potentially improving thermal stability, reducing leakage, and enhancing durability under repeated thermal cycling. The successful candidate will undertake laboratory-based research to synthesise and characterise PCM-containing composites using sol-gel techniques. Experimental activities will include preparing and optimising material formulations, assessing thermal storage performance, evaluating leakage resistance, and investigating durability under repeated heating and cooling cycles. The student will analyse experimental data to examine how composition and processing parameters influence thermal behaviour and material stability.
This interdisciplinary project sits at the interface of materials science, chemical engineering, and the built environment. The student will gain hands-on experience in materials synthesis, experimental design, laboratory testing, thermal analysis, data interpretation, and scientific communication. Throughout the project, they will be supported in developing independent research skills and critical thinking.
This research has the potential to advance the development of next-generation thermal energy storage materials for low-carbon buildings by addressing key barriers to the practical implementation of PCM technologies. Over the course of the project, the student will generate fundamental knowledge on the relationships between sol-gel processing, material structure, and thermal performance, providing a stronger scientific basis for the design of durable and effective thermal energy storage systems. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of building materials capable of enhancing occupant comfort while reducing energy demand and associated carbon emissions. The project will generate high-quality experimental data suitable for dissemination through journal publications and conference presentations, while helping to establish future research directions and potential pathways towards real-world integration of thermal energy storage technologies within the built environment.