This PhD project at the University of Southampton, supervised by Professor Marian Florescu, focuses on the development and modelling of hyperuniform disordered metasurfaces for solar thermal energy conversion. The research aims to harness structural disorder in nanostructured materials to achieve near-perfect absorption and minimal thermal losses, paving the way for highly efficient next-generation solar thermal energy systems. The project will investigate how structural correlations in disordered photonic materials can be engineered to control the absorption, scattering, and emission of light, thereby enhancing solar thermal energy conversion efficiency. By integrating advanced electromagnetic theory, large-scale computational modelling, and experimental collaboration, the project seeks to establish the principles and design rules for hyperuniform disordered metasurfaces, which use correlated disorder for precise and broadband light management.

The research will develop a comprehensive theoretical and computational framework for metal-dielectric-metal metasurfaces that achieve selective solar absorption. Large-scale simulations using finite element and finite difference time domain methods will be employed to analyse how varying degrees of hyperuniformity influence broadband absorption, angular response, and thermal emission. The outcomes are expected to provide new physical insights into the relationship between geometric correlations and optical performance. Key research activities include theoretical formulation and numerical modelling of solar-selective metasurfaces based on hyperuniform geometries, design and optimisation of correlated disorder using physics-informed and machine-learning methodologies, and parametric and multiphysics simulations to identify pathways toward near-unity absorption and suppressed thermal emission.

The project also involves collaboration with experimental partners at the University of Bristol and Northumbria University for the fabrication and optical characterisation of prototype metasurfaces. The Optoelectronics Research Centre at Southampton offers access to state-of-the-art computational facilities and over 90 specialist laboratories, providing an excellent environment for training in computational electromagnetics, photonic materials design, and data-driven optimisation. The programme is open to UK, EU, and Horizon Europe students, with full scholarships covering tuition fees, a stipend at the UKRI rate plus 10% ORC enhancement, and a budget for conference travel. CSC students are eligible for fee waivers, while funding for other international applicants is limited and highly competitive.

Applicants must hold a UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent in a relevant discipline. The University of Southampton is committed to equality, diversity, and sustainability, offering a supportive environment for all students.