PhD in determination of the structure and performance of organic friction modifiers

A fully funded PhD studentship is available under the supervision of Prof Alex Routh, with a start date of 1 January 2025. Funding will cover the student's stipend and tuition fees at the UK rate. Non-UK applicants will be considered only if they can fund the overseas fees differential or if they are awarded a suitable external scholarship. (Please note that there are no additional funds available via the University for which applicants can apply.) 

Friction consumes large amounts of energy. When dissipated in car brakes this is good, but residual friction in an engine, wind turbine or boat hull leads to large losses. Much of our knowledge around friction comes from the automotive industry, where fuel economy shows an inverse relationship with friction. Hence there have been a number of methods employed to reduce friction in engines including organic friction modifiers. These oil additives are known to reduce friction and the question is why?

The overall aim of this collaborative project between the University of Cambridge and Infineum is to build on our understanding of how friction modifiers function (in solution and at the solid/ liquid interface). We have built a molecular understanding and now need to relate this to the resultant friction. 

Internal combustion engines are being phased out and the industrial sponsor is keen to apply their leading knowledge to new business areas, wherever moving contact points exist. The initial application will be wind turbines but the project aims to build generic understanding that can be applied across sectors. 

Details of the Programme:

We have designed and built a unique tribometer which fits into neutron and x-ray reflectometers. This allows us to probe the conformation of organic molecules at moving metal interfaces. Linking the measurable structural changes with inline friction determination will allow linkages to be made between structure and friction. We will link our experimental observations with modelling of the flow patterns over the interface.  

The project will involve close collaboration with the Chemistry Department at Edinburgh University, where molecular dynamic simulations of similar systems are being performed. We will make extensive use of neutron beamlines at the Rutherford lab (Oxfordshire), ILL (Grenoble) and NIST (Washington, DC). 

References:

Alexander J. Armstrong, Thomas M. McCoy, Rebecca J. L. Welbourn, Robert Barker, Jonathan Rawle, Beatrice Cattoz, Peter J. Dowding, and Alexander F. Routh, Towards a high-shear neutron and X-ray reflectometry environment for the study of surface-active materials at solid-liquid interfaces, Scientific Reports 11:9713 2021 

Alexander J. Armstrong, Rui F. G. Apostolo, Thomas M. McCoy, Finian J. Allen, Rebecca J. L. Welbourn, James Doutch, Beatrice N. Cattoz, Peter J. Dowding, Alexander F. Routh, and Philip J. Camp, Experimental and Simulation Study of Self-Assembly and Surface Adsorption of Glycerol Monooleate in n-Dodecane onto Iron Oxide. Nanoscale 16: 1952-1970 2024. 

Applicants should have a First Class (or high Upper Second Class) mark in all previous degrees in a relevant discipline such as chemical engineering, chemical technology, mechanical engineering, chemistry, or a related subject. Those whose qualifications were completed outside the UK should check if they qualify before applying: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international/international-qualifications 

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click on the apply button above.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. 

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