Swansea University
About the Project
Funding providers:
50% Match Funded Faculty of Science and Engineering Studentship
50% Match funded contribution from UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship
Subject areas: Molecular beams, Surface Science, Quantum-state resolved collisions
Project start dates:
- 1 April 2025
- 1 July 2025
- 1 October 2025
Supervisors: Dr Helen Chadwick and Professor Gil Alexandrowicz
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Chemistry
Mode of study: Full-time
Project description:
It is a scientist’s dream to be able to control the outcome of a reaction just by changing the initial quantum state of the reactants. In this project, the student will explore if it is possible to control whether a molecule reacts (dissociates) on a surface, just by changing how it is rotating with respect to the surface before the collision. The focus of the work will be the dissociation of hydrogen on surfaces, which plays a crucial role in a variety of processes, from star formation to the industrial manufacture of chemicals, as well as developing a sustainable future.
The group the student will join, which is part of a wider team made up of both chemists and physicists, makes use of and further develops a unique magnetic molecular interferometer which allows us to control whether the hydrogen molecule is preferentially rotating like a helicopter or a cartwheel before it collides with the surface. During the PhD project, which is part of a Future Leaders Fellowship, the student will learn how to use the magnetic molecular interferometer apparatus to study molecule-surface reactions, gaining knowledge of a variety of topics including molecular beams, surface sample preparation techniques, different measurement methods, ultra-high vacuum chambers and cryogenic technologies. This will be combined with computational work including analysing the experimental data as well as running and further developing the numerical simulation codes the group currently uses to determine the optimum conditions in which to perform the experiments.
Eligibility
Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in chemistry or a related subject, or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ in chemistry or a related subject (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). See – Country-specific Information for EU and International Candidates.
Desirable – it is preferred that candidates have either have a physics or chemistry undergraduate degree (or another related subject).
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