Last Date: Applications accepted all year round

Supervisor: Prof Meng Nan Chong

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Monash University Malaysia    School of Engineering

About the Project

As the global energy landscape shifts toward sustainability, the development of efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for water splitting has become increasingly vital. Water splitting is a promising approach to hydrogen production, offering a pathway to clean, renewable energy. Bifunctional electrocatalysts, capable of efficiently driving both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), present significant advantages. These include streamlined system design, lower material costs, and enhanced overall efficiency, as a single catalyst can perform both key functions. This project aims to harness these benefits by investigating molybdenum phosphide (MoP) as a high-performance bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting.

MoP, with its notable electrical conductivity, chemical stability, and intrinsic catalytic activity, represents a promising candidate for such applications. However, to fully capitalize on MoP’s potential as a bifunctional electrocatalyst, advanced modifications are required to optimize its performance across both HER and OER. This research will focus on sophisticated modifications aimed at enhancing MoP’s catalytic properties. These modifications may involve strategic doping, the creation of composite materials, or structural refinement to maximize the exposure of active sites, thereby elevating the material’s catalytic efficiency and overall effectiveness.

The outcomes of this research have the potential to significantly impact the field of hydrogen production by offering a viable alternative to the currently utilized noble metal catalysts, which are both costly and limited in availability. By advancing MoP as a bifunctional electrocatalyst, this project could lead to the development of more economical and scalable technologies for water splitting. Moreover, the insights gained from this research could inform the design and development of other bifunctional electrocatalysts, contributing to the broader pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.

The ideal candidate for this PhD project should possess a robust background in chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering, with a strong interest in nanomaterials and electrochemistry. A passion for innovation and a commitment to advancing sustainable energy technologies are essential. This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in hydrogen production, with the potential to make substantial advancements in the development of cost-effective, scalable water-splitting technologies. We encourage motivated and talented individuals to apply and engage in this impactful research endeavor. The candidate is expected to have a H1 or H1 equivalence recognised by Monash University.

Supervisory team

Main Supervisor: Prof. Chong Meng Nan https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/chong-meng-nan

Co-Supervisor: Dr. Yaw Chong Siang

Funding Notes

Fully funded stipend and tuition waiver for 42 months. Directly funded by Monash University Malaysia.