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Masters Compare - Find your perfect masters course.
Deadline: 16 November 2026
Wales
Open to: UK fee eligible applicants only
Funding Providers: The Faraday Institution and Leaf-Tech Ltd
Subject Area: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry & Materials Science
Project Start Dates: January 2027
** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)
**In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.
Supervisors:
Aligned programme of study: Chemical Engineering, Ph.D. / M.Phil.
Mode of study: Full-time
Place of study: Swansea University (Bay Campus)
Project description:
Swansea University is pleased to offer a fully funded PhD studentship as part of the Faraday Institution PhD Training Programme, focused on developing next-generation microporous membranes for low-cost, long-duration iron–sulfur (Fe–S) redox flow batteries.
Membrane separators are critical to the efficiency and lifetime of redox flow batteries; however, existing commercial membranes suffer from severe active-species crossover, leading to capacity decay and reduced operational efficiency. This project will investigate how the molecular structure, microporosity and chemical functionality of polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) govern ion transport and selectivity in Fe–S battery chemistries. The successful candidate will design and synthesise functional PIMs with tailored sub-nanometre pores, develop solution-processable membranes, and establish quantitative structure–ion transport–battery performance relationships through advanced membrane characterisation and electrochemical testing.
The project will be hosted by Dr Rui Tan at Swansea University, in close collaboration with Leaf-Tech Ltd, an industrial partner working on the development and scale-up of advanced materials and technologies for energy applications.
Dr Rui Tan’s research group focuses on functional microporous polymers, selective ion-transport membranes and electrochemical energy storage, with particular expertise in molecularly engineered membranes and their application in redox flow and other emerging battery systems. Leaf-Tech Ltd will support the scale-up and manufacturing of PIM materials and membranes, alongside technical input and industrial mentorship to evaluate their manufacturability, scalability and commercial potential for next-generation flow batteries.
The successful candidate will undertake an industrial placement with Leaf-Tech Ltd during the PhD, gaining direct experience in polymer and membrane scale-up, manufacturing, process optimisation and industrial R&D challenges associated with translating advanced membrane materials from laboratory discovery towards practical long-duration energy-storage technologies.
PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline.
English Language
IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) - October 2026 onwards
UKRI stipend, all researchers will also receive £2,000 per year to support training and consumables, alongside access to a bespoke Faraday Institution PhD Training Programme valued at approximately £5,000 per year.
Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA (Full list of categories for HE in Wales)
Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact:
Open to: UK fee eligible applicants only
Note for international and European applicants:
Details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.
If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email [email protected] with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.
Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.
ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with a scholarship course offer.
Wed 11 Nov 2026