PhD Studentship: Development of High Energy Storage Technology for E-textiles and Wearable Sensors

Funding Source: Industry

Sponsor Company: HMGCC

Stipend: standard UKRI – for 2025 its £20,780. Funding Period is 3.5-years

Start Date: 6^th October 2025

Project Page – Centre

Project Overview

The objective of this research is to develop high energy storage technology for e-textiles and wearable sensors. Currently e-textiles is a growing area of interest, enabling smart sensors for medical, sports science, assistance through to VR technology. Integration of advanced electronics into woven fabric structures will greatly improve bio-mechanical compatibility and remove unnecessary restrictions, weight, or inflexible mass to product designs.

Current approaches to this problem include classical rigid lL-ion cells undergoing a single controlled bend and then encapsulated to fix the rigid structure, as seen in recent ‘smart ring’ products. Other more creative examples utilise stretchable polymer substrates, origami pre-folded structures or cable like braiding designs (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03772-0). A broad number of approaches have been considered to produce fibre analogues (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cossms.2022.101042), and this project would aim to improve the e-textile design and energy density.

We are interested in evaluating what is possible with current Li-ion technology, going beyond current cable/braiding designs to explore approaches to solid state electrolytes (polymer or ceramic), which opens the possibility of lithium metal anodes. Other options could then consider alloyed current collectors and other design approaches that could improve performance of e-textile battery designs. This technology has the potential to revolutionise wearable and personal electronics (sensors, communication, etc.) into the future

Essential and Desirable Criteria

A 1st or 2.1 undergraduate degree, or a postgraduate masters’ qualification in Chemistry, Physics or Materials science / engineering would be essential.

Some experience of energy storage materials and characterisation techniques would be desirable.

Funding and Eligibility

standard UKRI – for 2025 its £20,780

Funding Period is 3.5-years

Funding is available to eligible Home fee status and UK domicile EU students.

To apply

To apply please complete our online enquiry form via the above ‘Apply’ button and upload your CV, transcripts and certificates of previous studies to allow us to assess your suitability for this specific PhD.

Please ensure you meet the minimum requirements before filling in the online form.

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