Job offer PhD Scholarship: Photovoltaic-electrocatalytic integrated devices for solar fuels and chemicals

Job offer

• JOB


• United Kingdom

Imperial College London

• Posted on: 14 October 2026

PhD Scholarship: Photovoltaic-electrocatalytic integrated devices for solar fuels and chemicals

Apply now

Page contents

• Job Information


• Offer Description


• Where to apply


• Requirements


• Additional Information


• Work Location(s)


• Contact

14 Oct 2026

Job Information

• Organisation/Company
  Imperial College London


• Department
  Department of Chemical Engineering


• Research Field
  Chemistry » Solar chemistry


• Research Field
  Engineering » Chemical engineering


• Research Field
  Physics » Applied physics


• Researcher Profile
  First Stage Researcher (R1)


• Positions
  PhD Positions


• Application Deadline
  1 Nov 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/London)


• Country
  United Kingdom


• Type of Contract
  Temporary


• Job Status
  Full-time


• Hours Per Week
  35


• Offer Starting Date
  1 Oct 2027


• Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
  Not funded by a EU programme


• Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
  No

Offer Description

Converting sunlight directly into fuels and chemicals offers a sustainable route to store renewable energy and decarbonise chemical production. This PhD project will develop integrated photovoltaic-electrocatalytic (photoelectrochemical) devices in which high-performance light absorbers are directly coupled with electrocatalysts to drive chemical reactions using solar energy.

A major challenge is integrating efficient photovoltaic materials, including emerging organic and halide-perovskite semiconductors, with aqueous electrochemical environments without compromising their performance or stability. The project will develop conductive and chemically robust interfaces and catalytic layers to translate high photovoltaic performance into efficient (photo)electrocatalytic reactions. Particular attention will be given to minimising electrical and optical losses, controlling catalyst-electrode interfaces to tune product selectivity, and understanding the mechanisms that determine long-term device stability.

The student will combine photovoltaic device fabrication, materials synthesis, electrochemistry, spectroscopy and microscopy with testing under simulated sunlight. Target reactions will include solar hydrogen production and the conversion of abundant molecules into value-added chemicals. The ultimate goal is to establish design principles for efficient, durable and scalable integrated solar-to-chemical devices capable of operating without an external electrical power supply.

This scholarship is open to all applicants regardless of their fee status. It covers both tuition fees and a tax-free contribution to maintenance costs of £25,000 per annum for 42 months.

The Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London offers an advanced 3-4-year research degree that provides in-depth specialist training and knowledge in a topical area pertaining to Chemical Engineering and related Engineering and Science disciplines. The Department has state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities and is the home of the Automated high-throughput platform suite, the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering and the Sustainable Futures Lab.

The Department holds a Silver Athena Swan award for good practice in supporting academic women and gender equality renewed in 2024. This award recognises the good practices already in place for supporting women at all stages as well as our commitment to removing barriers to equal progress and achievement.

Deadline:

• 01 November 2026 for the first selection round


• 11 January 2027 for the second selection round


• 01 March 2027 for the third selection round (subject to availability of scholarships)

In order to be considered for the Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarships, you will need to submit your PhD application for admission through the online admissions system. Full details on the application and selection process can be found on our webpages.

We encourage all interested applicants to contact Prof Salva Eslava (s.eslava@imperial.ac.uk) before making an application.

Where to apply

• E-mail
  s.eslava@imperial.ac.uk

Requirements

• Research Field
  Chemistry


• Education Level
  Bachelor Degree or equivalent


• Research Field
  Engineering


• Education Level
  Bachelor Degree or equivalent


• Research Field
  Physics


• Education Level
  Bachelor Degree or equivalent


• Skills/Qualifications
  Bachelors and/or Masters in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or related disciplines.


• Languages
  ENGLISH


• Level
  Excellent

Additional Information

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available
  1


• Company/Institute
  Imperial College London


• Country
  United Kingdom


• City
  London


• Postal Code
  SW7 2AZ


• Geofield

Contact

• City
  London


• Website
  https://www.imperial.ac.uk/eslava-group/


• Street
  South Kensington Campus


• Postal Code
  SW7 2AZ


• E-Mail
  s.eslava@imperial.ac.uk

STATUS: EXPIRED

Apply now

#s1-Gen

Bachelor Degree or equivalent, Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Research Field
Physics

Education Level
Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Bachelors and/or Masters in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics or related disciplines.

Languages
ENGLISH

Converting sunlight directly into fuels and chemicals offers a sustainable route to store renewable energy and decarbonise chemical production. This PhD project will develop integrated photovoltaic-electrocatalytic (photoelectrochemical) devices in which high-performance light absorbers are directly coupled with electrocatalysts to drive chemical reactions using solar energy.

A major challenge is integrating efficient photovoltaic materials, including emerging organic and halide-perovskite semiconductors, with aqueous electrochemical environments without compromising their performance or stability. The project will develop conductive and chemically robust interfaces and catalytic layers to translate high photovoltaic performance into efficient (photo)electrocatalytic reactions. Particular attention will be given to minimising electrical and optical losses, controlling catalyst-electrode interfaces to tune product selectivity, and understanding the mechanisms that determine long-term device stability.

The student will combine photovoltaic device fabrication, materials synthesis, electrochemistry, spectroscopy and microscopy with testing under simulated sunlight. Target reactions will include solar hydrogen production and the conversion of abundant molecules into value-added chemicals. The ultimate goal is to establish design principles for efficient, durable and scalable integrated solar-to-chemical devices capable of operating without an external electrical power supply.

This scholarship is open to all applicants regardless of their fee status. It covers both tuition fees and a tax-free contribution to maintenance costs of £25,000 per annum for 42 months.

The Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London offers an advanced 3-4-year research degree that provides in-depth specialist training and knowledge in a topical area pertaining to Chemical Engineering and related Engineering and Science disciplines. The Department has state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities and is the home of the Automated high-throughput platform suite, the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering and the Sustainable Futures Lab.

The Department holds a Silver Athena Swan award for good practice in supporting academic women and gender equality renewed in 2024. This award recognises the good practices already in place for supporting women at all stages as well as our commitment to removing barriers to equal progress and achievement.