Project title: Sustainable hydrogen production from low-grade water using MXenes engineered via fluoride-free synthesis routes
Project: Double Degree Doctorate Program, ITB – Coventry University
Eligibility: Indonesian nationals
Duration: Full-Time – between three and four years fixed term
Application deadline: 29 May 2026
Interview date: 1 June 2026
Start date: September 2026
For further details contact: Dr. Ir. Grandprix T. M. Kadja and Prof. John Graves/ Dr. Prabukumar Chinnusamy
Contact: grandprix.thomryes@itb.ac.id; aa3879@coventry.ac.uk; ae1460@coventry.ac.uk
Introduction
Hydrogen is expected to play a central role in future low-carbon energy systems, yet its large-scale deployment remains constrained by the high cost and water purity requirements of conventional electrolysis. Freshwater-intensive, electrochemical hydrogen production is increasingly difficult to justify in regions facing water scarcity, while many industrial, brackish, saline, and wastewater streams remain underutilized as alternative feedstocks. However, the complex composition of low-grade water, which includes dissolved salts, organic matter, suspended solids, could lead to severe electrocatalyst deactivation.
In this sense, MXene, a rapidly emerging family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and/or nitrides, offer an attractive platform to address these barriers due to their metallic conductivity, hydrophilic surfaces, tunable terminations, redox-active chemistry, and strong potential for interfacial engineering. Their layered structure can be tailored for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution, ion transport regulation, and hybrid electrode design. At the same time, most MXenes are often prepared through fluoride-based etching routes, which raise concerns regarding safety, environmental impact, waste handling, and scalability.
This project aims to integrate both dimensions into one coherent PhD study: the rational design of MXene-based materials for hydrogen production from low-grade water, and the development of safer, greener, and scalable fluoride-free MXene synthesis pathways. The project will generate both fundamental understanding and applied design principles for resilient hydrogen systems operating under realistic water-quality conditions.
Project details
This PhD project proposes a materials-centered approach to sustainable hydrogen production using low-grade water resources such as brackish water, seawater-inspired media, and selected wastewater model solutions. The core of the project is the development of MXene-based electrocatalytic interfaces that can maintain high hydrogen evolution activity while tolerating impurities, salinity, and complex ionic environments. In parallel, the work will investigate fluoride-free synthesis routes, including but not limited to, molten-salt, alkali-assisted, electrochemical, hydrothermal, or other green etching/delamination strategies, to obtain MXenes with tailored surface chemistry and improved environmental compatibility. The project involves synthesis of MXenes via sustainable routes, material and electrochemical characterization of MXenes, electrode fabrication, and testing in a lab-scale electrolyser flow cell.
By connecting synthesis route, physicochemical properties, electrochemical behavior, and low-grade water composition, the project is expected to establish a structure-property-performance relationship for robust hydrogen production systems. The resulting framework may enable the design of next-generation MXene materials that are not only highly active, but also safer to produce, more scalable, and better aligned with circular and sustainable water-energy technologies.
Funding
Tuition fees and bursary from LPDP, PDDI or potentially ITB/CU
Benefits
The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal, and professional skills. All researchers at Coventry University (from PhD to Professor) are part of the Doctoral and Researcher College, which provides support with high-quality training and career development activities.
Entry requirements
• A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.
PLUS
• The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within 3.5 years.
• A minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS academic overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) or TOEFL iBT®/TOEFL iBT® Home Edition (Online) demonstrating achievement of an overall score of 95 or higher with no component below 21.
Academic Requirements
Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a relevant field is desirable, including but not limited to:
• Physics and Applied/Engineering Physics
• Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Environmental Science and Engineering
• Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Applicants should demonstrate:
• Hands-on skills in chemical synthesis and laboratory-based research.
• Familiarity with materials characterization techniques and interpretation.
• Interest in electrochemistry, catalysis, hydrogen production, or water treatment systems.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Strong analytical thinking, scientific writing, and motivation to contribute to academic publications.
Skills and experience in one of the following methods is desirable:
• Electrochemical techniques (e.g., LSV, CV, EIS, chronopotentiometry, Tafel analysis).
• Materials characterization tools (e.g., XRD, SEM/TEM, XPS, Raman, BET, contact-angle analysis).
• Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Origin, ImageJ, Profex, or equivalent).
• Academic writing and manuscript preparation.