Study level
- PhD
Faculty/School
Faculty of Engineering
Topic status
We're looking for students to study this topic.
Supervisors
- Position
- Professor
- Division / Faculty
- Faculty of Engineering
Overview
Building thermal insulation plays a critical role in global decarbonisation by directly reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling - two of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the built environment. Aerogel materials offer tremendous potential in insulation applications due to their ultralow thermal conductivity, lightweight nature, and flexible design properties. This PhD project aims to develop high-performance aerogel materials from renewable lignocellulosic biomass for thermal energy management applications.
Research activities
In this project, you will design and implement innovative biomass processing strategies and chemical modification approaches to produce lignocellulose-derived aerogel materials with optimized thermal insulation properties.
Outcomes
We expect that the thermal insulation performance of the lignocellulose-derived aerogels will meet or exceed current commercial standards for building insulation materials, contributing to more sustainable and energy-efficient construction solutions.
Skills and experience
A background in chemistry or chemical engineering is essential for this PhD project.
Prior research experience in biomass pretreatment and/or polymer chemistry is highly desirable.
Scholarships
You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.
Explore our research scholarships
Keywords
Contact
Contact the supervisor for more information.