PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
- Diverse skillset development, including spectroscopy, coding, and atmospheric modelling
- Investigate refrigerant breakdown impacts on air quality and climate.
- Train within a collaborative, interdisciplinary international research team.
Overview
Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) are a new generation of refrigerants designed as environmentally friendly replacements for older halocarbons. They have very low global warming potential and zero ozone depletion potential, leading to their rapid adoption in commercial and domestic systems, such as automotive air conditioning and heat pumps. Global emissions of HFOs are projected to exceed one million tonnes annually by 2050, primarily in densely populated regions. Despite their growing use, the atmospheric breakdown of HFOs is poorly understood. Once released, they are oxidised to form potentially hazardous products such as carbonyls, secondary organic aerosols (SOA), and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a persistent “forever” chemical with implications for air quality, health, and climate.
A particularly important but underexplored process is the ozonolysis of HFOs, especially at night when photochemical oxidants like OH are absent. Ozonolysis of alkenes generates highly reactive Criegee intermediates (CIs), which are now known to be key drivers of radical and particle formation in the atmosphere. However, the chemistry of fluorinated Criegee intermediates (HFO-CIs) has scarcely been studied. Their potential to form toxic oxidation products, drive SOA growth, and influence tropospheric oxidative capacity represents a major knowledge gap.
This studentship will focus on fundamental laboratory and computational studies of HFO-CIs, providing the first direct spectroscopic detection of their structures, reaction rates, and branching ratios with common atmospheric species. Experiments will be conducted using cutting-edge laser techniques uniquely capable of selective detection of trace reactive intermediates. In parallel, high-level quantum chemical calculations and master-equation modelling will characterise the reaction pathways and provide insights into conformer-specific reactivity.
The results will be incorporated into the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCM), the international benchmark for atmospheric modelling, and applied in urban air quality scenarios (e.g. Beijing, Delhi) to assess the wider impacts of HFO chemistry on oxidative budgets, ozone formation, and aerosol production. This interdisciplinary project bridges laboratory spectroscopy, computational chemistry, and atmospheric modelling, offering the student a unique opportunity to contribute to a pressing environmental challenge at the interface of physical chemistry, climate science, and public health.
Case Projects
This project does not offer a CASE studentship
Host
- University of Birmingham
Theme
- Climate and Environmental Sustainability
Supervisors
Project investigator
- Dr Joseph Beames, j.beames@bham.ac.uk
Co-investigators
- Dr Julia Lehman, j.lehman@bham.ac.uk
How to apply
Each host has a slightly different application process.
Find out how to apply for this studentship.
All applications must include the CENTA application form.
Further details and How to Apply
Please contact:
Dr Joseph M. Beames
Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry,
School of Chemistry,
University of Birmingham.
J.Beames@bham.ac.uk
To apply to this project:
- You must include a CENTA studentship application form, downloadable from: CENTA Studentship Application Form 2027
- You must include a CV with the names of at least two referees (preferably three) who can comment on your academic abilities.
- Please submit your application and complete the host institution application process via: https://admissions.bham.ac.uk/course-finder-landing-page/?code=LES068 Please select the PhD in Geography (CENTA) 2027 entry year Apply Now button. The CENTA Studentship Application Form 2027 and CV can both be uploaded to the Personal Statement section of the online form. In the funding section of the online form please select Research Council Funding and then choose Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Please quote CENTA 2027-B14 when completing the application form.
Applications must be submitted by 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 6th January 2027.
