Hybrid Cellulose–Metal Foam Phase Change Composites for Thermal Energy Storage (LANDINIS_U27EMP)
Key details
- Application Deadline
- 31 March 2027 (11:59 pm UK time)
- Location
- UEA
- Funding Type
- Self-funding (Home students only)
- Start Date
- 1 June 2027
- Mode of Study
- Full or Part time
- Programme Type
- PhD
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Project Description
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Stefano Landini(opens in a new window)
Phase change materials (PCMs) offer compact, temperature-targeted thermal energy storage but suffer from leakage during melting, low thermal conductivity and limited mechanical robustness, which restrict their integration into practical systems. Recent work of the supervisory team (i) has demonstrated a new class of cellulose–metal foam hybrid PCM composites, in which polyethylene glycol provides latent heat storage, carboxymethylated cellulose (CMC) prevents leakage, and lightweight open-cell aluminium foams deliver enhanced thermal conductivity and structural support. By decoupling shape stabilisation from thermal transport, this hybrid approach significantly reduces the amount of metal required, enabling lighter and more efficient storage media.
This PhD project will build on these findings to design, manufacture and characterise next-generation lightweight hybrid PCM composites for applications such as building-integrated thermal storage, electronics and battery thermal management, and compact thermal buffers in energy systems. The core of the project will be experimental, focusing on tailoring the composite architecture (cellulose chemistry, foam pore density, relative density, foam alloy and surface treatments) and PCM selection (molecular weight, transition temperature range) to match different operating temperatures and cycling conditions. Thermophysical characterisation will include measurements of thermal conductivity, effective heat capacity, latent heat and density, as well as thermal cycling stability and mechanical integrity under repeated melting–solidification.
The successful applicant will join the Thermofluids Research Lab at School of Engineering, Mathematics and Physics at the University of East Anglia and work within a growing thermal engineering and materials research environment. Collaboration opportunities exist with external partners and with academic collaborators in chemical and materials engineering across EU.
This PhD project is offered on a self-funded basis. Applicants must have access to funds to cover tuition fees, living costs and any additional research-related expenses. Guidance on potential funding routes and cost estimates can be provided to shortlisted candidates.
Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirements are a 2:1 Bachelor's and a Master's in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Energy Engineering, or Chemistry.
Funding
This project is offered on a self-funded basis. It is open to applicants who are self-funded or who are in the process of securing external funding. Details of tuition fees can be found here.
A bench fee is payable in addition to the tuition fee, to cover the cost of specialist equipment and laboratory facilities required for the research. Applicants should contact the primary supervisor for details of the bench fee applicable to this project.
If you are part of the UEA alumni community, you may be eligible for a tuition fee discount. The UEA Alumni 10% Tuition Fee Discount Scheme(opens in a new window) offers a 10% reduction for eligible alumni, while the and UEA 30% Final Year Undergraduate Continuation Scholarship(opens in a new window) offers a reduction of up to 30% for qualifying applicants. Visit each scholarship page for full eligibility details.
For information on doctoral funding, visit our Postgraduate Student Loans(opens in a new window) page.
References
Landini S, Lascelles E, Panter J, Navarro H. PEG-Based Hybrid Cellulose-Metal Foam Composites for Enhanced Thermal Conductivity and Structural Stability. In: Proceedings of the 11th World Congress on Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer (MHMT 2026); 2026; Paris, France. Avestia Publishing
Eanest Jebasingh B, Valan Arasu A. A detailed review on heat transfer rate, supercooling, thermal stability and reliability of nanoparticle dispersed organic phase change material for low-temperature applications. Materials Today Energy. 2020;16:100408. doi:10.1016/j.mtener.2020.100408.
A. Palacios, M. E. Navarro-Rivero, B. Zou, Z. Jiang, M. T. Harrison, and Y. Ding, ‘A perspective on Phase Change Material encapsulation: Guidance for encapsulation design methodology from low to high-temperature thermal energy storage applications’, J. Energy Storage, vol. 72, p. 108597, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.est.2023.108597
Le W T, Kankkunen A, Rojas O J, Yazdani M R. Leakage-free porous cellulose-based phase change cryogels for sound and thermal insulation. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 2023;256:112337. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2023.112337.