About this role
With ever ever-growing population worldwide, the need to produce more food is increasing. Fertilizers are essential to sustain a sufficient and healthy plant growth, with nitrogen fertilizer being the main required plant nutrient. However, the primary method of producing nitrogen fertiliser is incredibly energy-intensive and significantly contributes to climate change.
Global warming is the greatest challenge of our time, and it is more urgent than ever to act fast on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from current chemical manufacturing processes.
Plasma technology provides a sustainable, fossil fuel-free method for nitrogen fixation into liquid nitrogen fertilizer for controlled on farm application. This project combines an atmospheric pressure plasma process with a catalyst, aiming to provide a tailored plasma catalyst process to improve the energy efficiency with controlled production of nitrogen products such as NO3 and NH4.
The project will build on the cutting-edge research by Dr Zaenab Abd-Allah and Dr David Sawtell, which has been developed through a Royal Society Research Grant and a proof-of-concept fund to further investigate new methods for improving the energy efficiency of the plasma-based process.
Project aims and objectives
The project aims to improve the efficiency of the plasma nitrogen fixation process through the development of tailored plasma-catalysts.
Objectives:
Design, build and commission a suitable plasma system for nitrogen fixation. Investigate the effect of plasma operation parameters on the formation of nitrogen fertilizers in water. Investigate the effect of tailored plasma catalysts on improving the yield of nitrogen fertilizers in water. Investigate the required parameters and catalysts for controlling the concentration of produced nitrogen products.
Funding
Both Home and International students can apply. Only home tuition fees will be covered for the duration of the three-year and six-month award, which is £5,006 for the year 2025/26. Eligible international students will need to make up the difference in tuition fee (Band 3 for the year 2025/26).
The student will receive a standard stipend payment for the duration of the award. These payments are set at a level determined by the UKRI, currently £20,780 for the academic year 2025/26.
Specific requirements of the candidate
We are looking for a highly motivated and talented candidate with a strong background in one or more of the following fields:
Engineering Chemistry Materials Science
Essential:
A strong academic background (2:1 or above, or equivalent) in a relevant subject. Interest in sustainability and evidence-based environmental research. Ability to undertake experiments accurately and safely and make verbal or written reports.
How to apply
Interested applicants should contact Dr Zaenab Abd-Allah: [email protected] , Principal supervisor, for an informal discussion.
To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full time PhD in Engineering
Please complete the Doctoral Project Applicant Form, and include your CV and a covering letter to demonstrate how your skills and experience map to the aims and objectives of the project, the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest.
Please upload these documents in the supporting documents section of the University’s Admissions Portal.
Applications closing date: 10th March 2026
Expected start date: October 2026
Please quote the reference: SciEng-ZAA-2026-27-Tailored Plasma-Catalysts