PhD Studentship: Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Winding Development for Electric Motors Enabling Net Zero

Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Winding Development for Electric Motors Enabling Net Zero

This project is an exciting opportunity to undertake industrially linked research in partnership with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). It is based within the Power Electronics, Machines and Control (PEMC) Research Institute at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, which amongst its internationally renowned research portfolio, conducts cutting edge research into the development of future Power Electronics and Electrical Motor Drives Systems.

This is 3-year fully funded studentship and is only open to UK home students. The successful applicant will receive a generous tax-free annual stipend of £25,000 plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees. Additionally, £2,000 per annum is provided for consumables, travel, etc. Due to funding restrictions this PhD position is only available to UK nationals. As this position is sponsored by the MTC, any successful candidate would need to pass the sponsors own security checks prior to the commencement of the PhD.

Vision

We are seeking for a highly motivated PhD student to conduct cutting edge research with support from state-of-the-art electric motor manufacturing platforms both at the MTC and at PEMC Institute, University of Nottingham. Based on rapidly advancing Carbon Nanotube (CNT) material technology, the PhD project will be focused on development of next generation electric motors with CNT windings for electric vehicle traction and aerospace propulsion, featuring opportunity for significant improvements on performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.

Motivation 

Electrification is a main enabler for decarbonised transportation. To achieve the “Net Zero” target by 2050 in the UK, ambitious roadmaps have been drawn up by national institutions including the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), and Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). This translates into step-change performance requirements for electrical motors, from a state of the art continuous power density of 2-5 kW/kg, to 10-25 kW/kg by 2035. The highest power dense motors today rely on unsustainable materials including noble metals, heavy rare-earth materials, and on carbon-intensive manufacturing processes. Incremental improvements in electrical motor technologies will not suffice to bridge the power density gap required for aerospace hybrid and electric propulsion, nor sustain the widespread adoption of electrical vehicles in an environmentally friendly and ethical way. A radical approach to how electrical motors are developed, combined with emerging material technology, is needed.  

Aim

This project will start with capability characterisation of the emerging CNT wire technology. After quantifying the superior properties of CNT against copper and aluminium windings in specific high-performance applications, The PhD will be focused on developing novel solutions of motor topologies featuring CNT windings, including designing and testing of optimised prototypes for benchmark validation. 

The PEMC Institute is home to Driving the Electric Revolution Midlands Industrialisation Centre and the UK Electrification of Aerospace Propulsion Facilities, which have received over £20M of funding in the last 3 years. This 5000m2 institute with state-of-the-art facilities for research into electrification technologies, hosting 21 academics, 60 post-doctoral researchers and over 80 PhD students, will be made available for this PhD project. 

As a PhD student, you will work with both academics from the PEMC Institute at University of Nottingham and also have the opportunity to work with the engineering teams within the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). This will give you real-world experience in working within in an industrial company, as well as experiencing the workplace and culture within it.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated candidate, with a 1st or high 2:1 degree in electrical / mechanical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related scientific disciplines. It is desirable that the candidate has: demonstrated skills in numerical tools; good programming skills (MATLAB, python, C++ etc). Any experience or capabilities in engineering design or manufacturing methods would be advantageous.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The Faculty of Engineering (FoE) provides a thriving working environment for all Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) creating a strong sense of community across research disciplines. Community and research culture is important to our PGRs and the FoE support this by working closely with our Postgraduate Research Society (PGES) and our PGR Research Group Reps to enhance the research environment for PGRs. PGRs benefit from training through the Researcher Academy’s Training Programme, those based within the Faculty of Engineering have access to bespoke courses developed for Engineering PGRs. including sessions on paper writing, networking, and career development after the PhD. The faculty has outstanding facilities and works in partnership with leading industrial partners.

The MTC is an independent Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) aimed at de-risking and accelerating the adoption of disruptive technologies within the UK manufacturing sphere. Supported by the UK government, the MTC works closely with industrial partners and other research organisations to deliver world leading innovation across all levels of the UK’s industrial landscape, from SMEs and start-ups to OEMs and large-scale global manufacturers. For more information please visit the MTC website.

Contact

For further information on this PhD position please contact Prof. Chris Gerada from UoN side: (chris.gerada@nottingham.ac.uk), and Dan Walton from MTC side (dan.walton@the-mtc.org).   

Closing Date: 28th February 2025.

Proposed PhD Start Date: 1st October 2025.

Please apply here https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/how-to-apply/apply-online.aspx

When applying for this studentship, please include the reference number (beginning ENG and supervisors name) within the personal statement section of the application. This will help in ensuring your application is sent directly to the academic advertising the studentship. 

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

Closing Date: 28 Mar 2025 Category: Studentships