A new, fully funded D.Phil (PhD) position is available in our group at Oxford – Atom Probe Tomography characterisation of Pt-alloys for nitric acid production. This is a vitally important chemical, formed via ammonia oxidation, for producing the fertilisers we need for food, yet there remains a great deal unknown about how the gas environment alters the surface chemistry and structure of these expensive Pt-group heterogeneous catalysts. This project will enable the student to become an expert user in APT, deploying it alongside a range of advanced characterisation techniques including SEM-EDX, 3D FIB to provide key insights into the active sites of current catalysts and the roles of Pt and Rh, alongside that of other trace metallic species, in ammonia combustion. Additionally, it will validate DFT models of the alloy surface and contribute to advanced CFD modelling of an ammonia oxidation kinetic model within our industrial collaborators Yara International, who will be closely involved, offering the student a unique chance to interact with a wide variety of industry researchers and academics working on advanced surface science techniques.
See advert for more details and for our application process: https://materialsoutreach.web.ox.ac.uk/article/atom-probe-analysis-of-pt-alloys