Phase noise, frequency-agility are two perennial interests.
I doubt you'll be making any great advances in max
frequency or minimum power, that industry has not
already. Lots of CMOS PLLs out there as piece-parts
and IP blocks.
I've sometimes thought about the goodness of
breaking the classical filter and making something
else than the 1 or 2 pole linear filter. Perhaps something
like what's going on in "digital power" (changing the
control loop's architecture to chase advantages in
load-step response and stability).
But my gut says this all has been done to death
and is not terrain for much innovation, if that is
an interest or requirement. You might have to
work on how you call your topic and thesis, if it
has to satisfy such academic urges as novelty.