High Power Battery Recycling

Call for applications

This is an interdisciplinary project within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. We are offering the opportunity for a Visiting Researcher who will work closely with other researchers in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy and Materials.

This VRF grant is funded by the Faraday Institution, the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research and skills development. The Faraday Institution's vision is to bring together scientists and industry partners on research projects to reduce battery cost, weight, and volume; to improve performance and reliability (The Faraday Institution - Powering Britain’s Battery Revolution).

VRF at the University of Birmingham

People are at the heart of what we are and do. We want to welcome outstanding, inspirational, and talented people, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. Working as a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham gives you access to the best resources, a beautiful campus and an intellectually stimulating and diverse community. Our sector leading development programmes are recognised by Athena Swan, Stonewall, and Two Ticks which demonstrates our commitment to supporting talented people from all backgrounds.

The School of Chemistry

The School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham is a vibrant and thriving academic community. We provide an inclusive and supportive environment where we strive to support everyone. With a strong focus on our four Research Themes of Energy, Sustainability, Environment and Health, and a number of interdisciplinary Interest Groups serving as testbeds to explore new and emerging areas of interest, we are a dynamic place to work. We have ambitious plans to expand our research activity and are in an exciting period of growth: major investment from the University has delivered a state-of-the-art research building, and new multi-million pound high-performance computing facilities, which will ensure UK-leading computer capability. These investments build on a major recent expansion of our academic staff and investment in our teaching and learning provision, with our Collaborative Teaching Laboratory, already revolutionising how we teach undergraduate practical chemistry.

We are a collegiate School community. Each of us demonstrate academic citizenship, develop and maintain generous, mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with the School, ensuring the way we carry out our role impacts positively on how others carry out theirs. 

The project and research team

The transition to net zero transport will generate a large market for recycling of EV and other Li/Na ion batteries: this will include batteries from EVs, stationary energy storage and production scrap from the gigafactories that produce the batteries. In addition to preventing a future waste problem, the recycling of batteries is crucial to ensure a sustainable battery economy and preserve the critical elements that are within the batteries.

The overall aim of the ReLiB project is to understand the conditions required to ensure the sustainable management of lithium-ion batteries when they reach the end of their useful life in electric vehicles. This will enhance the overall efficiency of the supply chain and ensure that the UK has the facilities required for safe, economic, and environmentally sound management of the materials contained in lithium-ion batteries.

There is growing interest in high power Li ion batteries for a range of transport, and other applications. These batteries utilise an oxide anode rather than graphite, with currently a lot of industrial focus on Wadsley Roth-type Niobium Oxide based anodes. However, there is currently very little recycling research focused on such batteries. In this project, the fellow will investigate the recovery and reuse of niobium oxide phases to demonstrate their recyclability. The fellow will explore various recycling methods to evaluate their effectiveness in reclaiming niobium oxide materials for reuse in battery applications.

The VRF will be hosted by the Chemistry groups led by Professor Peter Slater, Professor Paul Anderson and Dr Phoebe Allan, and will work and share their knowledge on the development of strategies to maximise the recycling of niobium oxide-based anodes.

A truly interdisciplinary project within the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the Visiting Researcher will work closely with other researchers in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy and Materials.

This VRF grant is funded by the Faraday Institution, the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research and skills development. The Faraday Institution vision is to bring together scientists and industry partners on research projects to reduce battery cost, weight, and volume; to improve performance and reliability (The Faraday Institution - Powering Britain’s Battery Revolution).

The aim of these VRF grants is to help to build links between UK and Latin America research groups. To this end, the project will cover expenses (including travel, housing costs and associated subsistence costs) for a visiting researcher from Brazil.

What Birmingham can offer

With more miles of canal than Venice and more trees than Paris, the UK’s cosmopolitan Second City can rival any European capital. Nestling in the big heart of England, Birmingham’s prime central location is what sets it apart. Less than two hours from London, and with an international airport on its doorstep, it is home to the largest financial services and creative sectors outside the capital and has fantastic connections to the rest of the country and beyond.

How to apply

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to Peter Slater (p.r.slater@bham.ac.uk).

Please quote VRF FI Grant in any correspondence.

The closing date for applications is 16 June 2025.