FENCES: FErroelectric NanoComposites for Enhanced Solar energy efficiency

FENCES will develop a new approach to solar energy conversion by incorporating nanostructured ferroelectric materials into solar energy devices for both solar-to-electric (photovoltaic) and solar-to-fuel (photocatalysis) conversion. By coupling the bulk photovoltaic effect in the ferroelectric with high efficiency solar absorbs materials, FENCES aims to demonstrate a new route to solar energy conversion with the potential to exceed established efficiency limits.

Sustainable Electrodes for Advanced Flow Batteries

The research programme proposed in this Fellowship application details a plan to develop alternative electrodes for RFBs using sustainable resources. RFBs often employ carbon felts as electrodes, prepared from non-sustainable polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and their activity towards the redox reactions is poor, leading to low efficiency systems. I propose to use electrospinning, a very versatile processing technique that allows for fine control of the features of the materials prepared, to produce a new generation of freestanding electrodes with unique tailored properties that will increase the power density and voltage efficiency of RFBs.

Interstitial Hydrides of High-Entropy Alloys

This French-UK collaboration is focussed on developing new high-entropy alloys for hydrogen storage. The alloys obtained have high hydrogen-storage capacity, desirable and viable for energy-storage applications, also allowing for the fundamental study of processes related to the inclusion and removal of hydrogen in the metals/alloys.

Molecular Manufacturing of Macroscopic Objects - fellowship Stoyan Smoukov

This interdisciplinary proposal proposes a molecular basis for Manufacturing for the Future,[a1] to grow many types of particles in a nature-inspired way. It offers scalability, near-full utilization of the material, and the ability to carry out transformations at near ambient conditions. Manufacturing in nature spans the scales from intricate ...

Design and assessment of solid-state alkali metal-ion conductor 1D channeled framework materials

A key challenge in developing all-solid-state batteries is the electrolyte: that is, the material that allows the charge transfer between the electrodes. This project is delivering new materials featuring one dimensional channels on the atomic scale for this application.

Sustainable Processing of Energy Materials from Waste

A multi-disciplinary team from the UK (QMUL, Imperial and UCL) and China (CAS and Tsinghua) delivers a vision of sustainable waste upgrading into advanced materials for the renewable-energy sector.

Re-imagining separations in refining

LNG Transport: Measuring And Minimising Methane Emissions

This is a first-of-a-kind project to measure total methane emissions from an LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier ship. The research will help determine effective measurement methodologies for shipping methane emissions, and provide the first data point in understanding how much to ships contribute to natural gas supply chain emissions.

Bacterial Nanocellulose for Energy Applications

Our project aims to reuse the leftover of the fique natural fiber production (juice) from local producers in Antioquia, where close to 100 farmers of fique fibers sell this raw material at a price of $150 COP/kg for the production of sacks and cord. We will use the fique juice as a culture medium for the Komagataeibacter Medellinensis bacteria for the synthesis of bacterial nanocellulose, which will be further activated for energy storage applications, including lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors. With this project, we will support local farmers, who will benefit from selling their agricultural waste to biomass companies, providing farmers a new source of income. The proposed collaboration involves Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (UPB) and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).