PhD Studentship in Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Winding Development for Electric Motors Enabling Net Zero

PhD Studentship: Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Winding Development for Electric Motors

The Manufacturing Technology Centre UK, and the University of Nottingham

This project offers an exciting opportunity to undertake industrially linked research with engineering teams of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and academics within the Power Electronics, Machines and Control (PEMC) Research Institute, University of Nottingham. The project will be supported by the state-of-the-art electric motor manufacturing platforms at both locations.

Project Description

Electrification is a main enabler for decarbonised transportation. Ambitious roadmaps to achieve the “Net Zero” target by 2050 in the UK require step-change performance of electrical motors from a state-of-the-art continuous power density of 2-5 kW/kg to 10-25 kW/kg by 2035. The highest power dense motors today rely on unsustainable materials and on carbon-intensive manufacturing processes. Incremental improvements in electrical motor technologies will not suffice to bridge the power density gap required for aerospace propulsion, nor sustain the widespread adoption of electrical vehicles in an environmentally friendly and ethical way. A radical approach to how electrical motors is developed, combined with emerging material technology, is needed.

The project will motivate the PhD student to develop next generation electric motors with advanced CNT windings for electric vehicle traction and aerospace propulsion, featuring improved performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. It will start with capability characterisation of the emerging CNT wire technology. After quantifying the superior properties of CNT against copper and aluminium windings in specific high-performance applications, the PhD work will be focused on developing novel motor topologies featuring CNT windings, including designing and testing of optimised prototypes for validation.

Funding:

• A three-year fully funded studentship
• A generous tax-free annual stipend of £25,000 plus payment of their full-time home tuition fees
• An additional £2,000 per annum for consumables and travel.

Requirements:

• The candidate should have a 1st or high 2:1 degree in electrical/mechanical engineering, physics, mathematics, or related scientific disciplines.
• Skills in numerical tools and programming are desirable (MATLAB, python, C++ etc).
• Any experience or capabilities in engineering design or manufacturing methods would be advantageous.

Eligibility and Application

• Due to funding restrictions, the position is only available for UK home candidates.
• As sponsored by MTC, the successful candidate would need to pass the sponsors own security checks before starting the PhD.
• Start date: 1 October 2025 
• Closing date: 28 February 2025

For further information please email Professor Chris Gerada (University of Nottingham) and Dan Walton (MTC).

Facilities

The MTC is an independent Research and Technology Organisation aimed at de-risking and accelerating the adoption of disruptive technologies within the UK manufacturing sphere. Supported by the UK government, the MTC works closely with industrial partners and other research organisations to deliver world leading innovation across all levels of the UK’s industrial landscape, from SMEs and start-ups to OEMs and large-scale global manufacturers

The PEMC Institute is home to Driving the Electric Revolution Midlands Industrialisation Centre and the UK Electrification of Aerospace Propulsion Facilities, which have received over £20m of funding in the last three years. This 5000m2 institute with state-of-the-art facilities for research into electrification technologies, hosting 21 academics, 60 post-doctoral researchers and over 80 PhD students, will be made available for this project. The university actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.  

Advert information