3D printing of metal membranes

This scholarship is available over three years and offers:

• a stipend of $37,450 per annum tax exempt (2026 rate)
• a top-up of $10,000 per annum tax exempt
• a relocation allowance of $500-1,500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• tuition fees offset for the duration of four years
• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.

Emerging micropollutants (EMs), such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pose severe threats to water security, as they often bypass conventional wastewater treatment plants. Electrocatalytic degradation is a promising solution. However, traditional electrodes are often limited by low active surface areas, poor mass transfer kinetics and low long-term stability in practical application. This project addresses these bottlenecks by developing 3D-printed robust metal membranes that serve as both filters and high-efficiency electrocatalysts.

Utilising additive manufacturing techniques like selective laser melting (SLM), we will engineer complex, triply periodic minimal surface architectures. These designs maximise the electrochemically active surface area and induce local turbulence, significantly enhancing the transport of EMs to reactive sites. The electrocatalytic membrane will be fabricated by additive manufacturing from metal-based catalytic powers directly, rather than conventional loading or coating, leading to outstanding long-term stability and durability for practical industrial wastewater treatment. The resulting technology offers a robust, compact solution for water recycling.

The technology users, including municipal water authorities and industrial manufacturers, can integrate these membranes into existing infrastructure to ensure compliance with tightening environmental regulations. By providing a pathway for destruction of recalcitrant EMs, this research supports the transition toward safe water reclamation and a circular economy.

This research will collaborate with industry partner Hydroleap.

To be eligible you must:

• meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
• enrol full time
• hold an honours degree (first class) or an equivalent standard masters degree with a substantial research component
• be an international candidate 

Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.