PhD Studentship: Low-emission Ammonia Combustion Smart Material Design

PhD Studentship:
Low-emission Ammonia Combustion through Smart Material Design

Engineering |
UK Other |
Closing Date
:
Thursday 15 January 2026 |
Reference
: ENG
284

We invite applications for a PhD project focused on fundamental research into novel low-emission ammonia combustion/oxidation processes. This position is based within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham, contributing to cutting‑edge research into clean and sustainable energy technologies.

Vision and Aim
Ammonia is an essential component of the global strategy to achieve net‑zero emissions. As a carbon‑free fuel, it holds great promise for decarbonising energy‑intensive sectors such as power generation and shipping. However, its practical use in combustion systems remains limited by two challenges:
poor reactivity and undesirable nitrogen emission
. Due to its high ignition temperature and substantial activation energy, ammonia is difficult to ignite and sustain combustion in conventional systems. Meanwhile,
nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxides can form in significant quantities. Existing strategies such as fuel blending, catalytic combustion, or post‑combustion treatment often face trade‑offs between efficiency, cost, and emission control. To fully realise ammonia’s potential as a clean energy carrier
, a fundamental rethinking of the combustion process is needed.

Project Focus
This PhD project will investigate low‑NOₓ and low‑N₂O route ammonia utilisation through advanced catalytic material design. In this interdisciplinary research, you will benefit from the expertise at University of Nottingham and collaborate with partners at University of Cambridge, Newcastle University, and others.

• Review the state‑of‑the‑art technologies for ammonia combustion/oxidation.
• Conduct theory‑driven material screening and develop advanced materials for low‑emission ammonia conversion.
• Perform experimental investigations and computational simulations of the combustion process.

• First‑class or equivalent in chemical engineering, material science, chemistry, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline. A 2:1 may be considered if other criteria are met.
• Good writing, analytical, and communication skills.
• Self‑motivated candidate.

Upon finding a suitable candidate, the applicant will go through an internal competition for funding.

Please send your CV, academic transcripts, and a cover letter outlining your experiences and research interests to Dr Yaoyao Zheng (Y). Informal enquiries may also be sent to this email. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is appointed.