Develop high-performance next-generation lithium-ion battery

Our increasing dependence on lithium-ion batteries to electrify transportation necessitates an ongoing focus on their cost reduction and performance improvements, given that batteries account for ~40% of the car cost, and their energy density determines the driving range of electric vehicles per charge. 

• Cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries are critical to meeting these demands, as they not only account for nearly 45% of the total battery cost but also set the upper limit for energy density in current LIB technology. The primary focus of this project is to design novel cathode materials that enable high energy density and cost-effective energy storage, followed by controlled material synthesis and characterisation to gain a deeper understanding of the structure-property relationship.
• The electrochemical processes within a battery are inherently complex. Achieving long battery lifespan requires careful design and optimisation of key components, including the electrodes, electrolyte, and separator. Therefore, the second focus of this project is to optimise the overall battery architecture to enhance performance, stability, and cycle life.

The success of this project will not only increase the energy density and simultaneously reduce the cost of lithium-ion batteries for widely affordable long-range electric vehicles, but also advance our understanding of the design and synthesis of cutting-edge functional materials and electrochemical redox mechanisms.

This project will be undertaken primarily in the Nanomaterials Centre (formerly the ARC Centre of Excellence in Functional Nanomaterials) in the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and the Nanomaterials for Energy Labs in the School of Chemical Engineering at UQ (UQ-ChemEng). These two labs/centre provide access to all the required facilities to support this project, including (i) material synthesis (including chemical reactors for solid, liquid, and gas phase reactions) and characterisations (such as bench-top XRD, TGA, DSC, FT-IR), (ii) battery fabrication (dry rooms, glove box, thin film coater, semi-automatic pouch cell fabrication line) and electrochemical analytic tools (e.g., bio-logic, battery tester, thermal chambers). In addition, the comprehensive suite of analytical instrumentation required in this project such as XRD, XPS, SEM, and TEM, are all available in the Centre for Microanalysis and Microscopy (CMM), the Queensland Node of Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF-Q), and the Centre for Advanced Imaging (CAI) at UQ.

This is an Fellowship support scheme scholarship project that aligns with a recently awarded Australian Government grant.

The scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
• your tuition fees covered
• single overseas student health cover (OSHC).

Learn more about the Fellowship support scheme scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of chemistry, material science, and electrochemistry would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of material science, electrochemistry and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of electrochemistry and chemical engineering is highly desirable.

This project requires candidates to commence no later than Research Quarter 4, 2026. You can start in an earlier research quarter.

You must submit an expression of interest (EOI) by the closing date for the research quarter (RQ) you want to start in:

Before you apply

1. Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
2. Prepare your documentation.
3. If you have any questions about whether the project is suitable for your research interests, contact Dr Xia Huang (xia.huang@uq.edu.au).

When you apply

To apply, submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the program. You don't need to apply separately for the project or scholarship. How to submit an EOI

In your EOI, complete the 'Scholarship/Sponsorship' section with the following details:

1. Are you applying for an advertised project: 'Yes'
2. Project: 'Fellowship project scholarship'
3. Scholarship Code Listed in the Advertisement: HUANG-300925
4. Link to Scholarship Advertisement: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/develop-high-performance-next-generation-lithium-ion-battery

Submit an EOI