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 ...

The National Centre for Nuclear Robotics (NCNR)

Nuclear facilities require a wide variety of robotics capabilities, engendering a variety of extreme RAI challenges. NCNR brings together a diverse consortium of experts in robotics, AI, sensors, radiation and resilient embedded systems, to address these complex problems. In high gamma environments, human entries are not possible at all. In alpha-contaminated environments, air-fed suited human entries are possible, but engender significant secondary waste (contaminated suits), and reduced worker capability. We have a duty to eliminate the need for humans to enter such hazardous environments wherever technologically possible. Hence, nuclear robots will typically be remote from human controllers, creating significant opportunities for advanced telepresence. However, limited bandwidth and situational awareness demand increased intelligence and autonomous control capabilities on the robot, especially for performing complex manipulations. Shared control, where both human and AI collaboratively control the robot, will be critical because i) safety-critical environments demand a human in the loop, however ii) complex remote actions are too difficult for a human to perform reliably and efficiently.

All-printed thermoelectric generators

Organic thermoelectric materials are in the early stages of development, and the excitement surrounding them lies in their low cost, solution processability (they can be printed) and their mechanical flexibility. In short, they could revolutionise thermoelectric power generation. In this project, an OTEG will be fabricated on paper by a novel printing process. It is a cheap, scalable process that is much-needed for OTEGs to become reality. Furthermore, this project follows the conviction that a fundamental understanding of OTEG device physics will accelerate the development of improved thermoelectric materials

Understanding the excited states in carbon dots and hybrids for solar fuels production

ISCF Wave 1:Designing Electrodes for Na Ion Batteries via Structure Electrochemical Performance Correlations

Predictive Modelling for Nuclear Engineering (Early Career Fellowship)

To develop numerical models that predict the coupled neutronics-thermal hydraulics physics with nuclear reactor cores and to quantify the uncertainties in these predictions.

GREENCARBON

LIGNOCAP - Lignin-derived carbon fiber flexible supercapacitors

Hierarchical fibre-reinforced composites with nano-engineered interfaces for multifunctional lightweight structures

The aim of this project is to develop a multifunctional composite with integrated damage sensing, de-icing, and electromagnetic (EM) absorption capabilities based on nano-engineered interfaces, with the emphasis on lightweight engineering structures. The tailored electrical properties are utilised for in-situ damage detection based on electrical sensing method, as well as the EM absorption and de-icing applications.

TRANSIT

TRANSIT (Towards a Robust Airport Decision Support System for Intelligent Taxiing) is a four site project between Queen Mary University of London, the University of Sehffield, University of Stirling and Cranfield University, funded by the UK EPSRC (grant numbers EP/N029496/1, EP/N029356/1, EP/N029577/1). The lead at each site is, respectively, Dr Jun Chen, Prof Mahdi Mahfouf, Dr John Woodward and Dr Mudassir Lone, with Dr Chen as the overall project director. The project also has an extensive list of industrial partners, which currently includes Air France – KLM, BAE Systems, Manchester Airport Plc, Rolls-Royce Plc, Simio LLC and Zurich Airport. The TRANSIT project aims to develop a unified routing and scheduling system which will be more Realistic, Robust, Cost-effective and Configurable, producing better conformance of flight crew in response to 4 Dimensional Trajectories.

Postgraduate Studentship

Bifunctional Hybrid Electrocatalysts

The high cost of the noble metal catalysts employed in energy devices is one of the major drawbacks to their full development and exploitation. There are many reports new materials that can overcome state-of-the-art limitations. However, not much research has been done to understand the structure-property relationships to allow an improved performance. This project aims to create transition metal perovskite/nitrogen-doped carbon electrospun nanofibres as alternative cost-efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts to replace noble metals in energy conversion and storage devices. At the same time, we will develop new in situ studies that will allow a deeper understanding of the structure-property relationships allowing for further optimisation.

Development of a new class of adaptable self-supporting hydroxide-ion conducting membranes

We are making self-supporting membranes based on MOF nanofibres, which have a high intrinsic hydroxide ion conductivity.

Adaptive hierarchical model predictive control of wave energy converter

This project proposes a hierarchical adaptive optimal control framework to maximise wave energy conversion efficiency while guaranteeing safe operation for a large range of sea states. The framework combines the strengths of several key promising technologies in control and wave prediction to adaptively achieve the best trade-off between energy maximisation ...

Understanding Interactions between Vanadium Ions and Carbon Electrodes using the Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Redox Flow Batteries RFBs represent one class of electrochemical energy storage devices in which the energy is stored using chemical reduction and oxidation processes. Here we use the electrochemical quartz microbalance (EQCM) to explore the reaction mechanisms between vanadium species and electrospun carbon-based electrodes. This is a pioneering study on using EQCM technique for the first time to understand the interactions electrode surface and redox-active species in redox flow cells. Understanding the redox processes in flow batteries and interaction electrode –active species is key to accelerate the development of this technology.

UK Consortium on Turbulent Reacting Flows