Division of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Energy

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On this page:

• Academic Staff Members
• Associate Academic Staff Members
• Postdoc Research Assistants
• Professional Services
• Current PhD Students
• PhD Graduates

Academic Staff Group Members

Dr Folashade Akinmolayan MEng, PhD, SFHEA Lecturer in Engineering Science & Education Primary research interests are: Student experience of teamwork as an indicator for employability skills; Engagement and retention of students within Engineering through active learning techniques; Cultural and social impacts on the approaches to learning; Diversity and inclusion within Engineering. Secondary research interests are: Process modelling and simulation; Clean Water Treatment processes.  +44 (0)20 7882 7281      f.akinmolayan@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Paul Balcombe MEng, PhD, CEng, MIChemE Lecturer in Chemical Engineering and Renewable Energy Specialises in developing unique technology-specific, probabilistic emissions/cost modelling of energy supply chains, particularly relating to methane emissions from natural gas, as well as hydrogen and ammonia supply chains.  p.balcombe@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Edo Boek PhD Reader in Chemical Engineering Setting up a new research group and Division of Chemical Engineering with focus on energy engineering. My research is in soft matter, energy, flow and transport of complex fluids in confinement (porous media), multi-scale imaging and simulation. I investigate how the macroscopic behaviour of complex systems emerges from the underlying microscopic behaviour. I have a solid research track record in two-phase and reactive flow in porous media, with applications in clean fossil fuels, CO2 storage and asphaltene deposition. In my new role at QMUL, I will be extending these applications to renewable energy, battery design, fuel cells and supercapacitors. I develop both experimental and computational methods for my research. Experimental methods include micro-fluidics, (confocal) microscopy, rheology and X-ray micro-tomography. Computer simulation methods include lattice-Boltzmann, Multi-Particle Collision Dynamics, and Molecular Dynamics. I am currently hiring a PhD student in this area. Please contact me for details.  +44 (0)20 7882 2964      e.boek@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Joe Briscoe MSci (Hons), PhD, CSci, MIMMM, MInstP Lecturer in Functional Materials Nanostructured materials for renewable energy applications: Semiconductor photocatalysts, photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) & solar fuels; Nanostructured photovoltaic devices; Ferroelectrics for solar energy conversion; Piezoelectric energy harvesting. Chemical synthesis of nanomaterials and nanostructured thin films, material characterisation, device construction and testing.  +44 (0)20 7882 3552      j.briscoe@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Patrick Cullen PhD Lecturer in Sustainable/Renewable Energy  p.cullen@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Xi Jiang PhD, CEng, FIMechE Director of Division of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Energy / Professor of Mechanical Engineering The expertise of Prof Jiang is primarily in sustainable and cleaner energy utilisation, which includes but not limited to the applications of high-fidelity modelling and simulation to the following research areas: (1) combustion utilisation of alternative and renewable fuels including chemical kinetics studies, (2) greenhouse gas mitigation technologies including combustion mitigation of low-concentration methane; (3) flow in porous media and geological carbon storage, and (4) battery thermal management and thermal management in computer systems.  +44 (0)20 7882 5009      xi.jiang@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Ana Jorge Sobrido PhD, FHEA Senior Lecturer in Energy Materials My research focuses on the development of new electroactive materials for energy conversion and storage devices. My expertise ranges from the synthesis of new compounds through multiple synthesis approaches to electrode ink formulation strategies and assembly and testing into real electrochemical devices.  +44(0)20 7882 6782      a.sobrido@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Radomir Slavchov PhD Lecturer in Chemical Engineering (i) Adsorption of surfactants and electrolytes; (ii) capillary shapes, capillary flows, wetting, biomechanics; (iii) theory of surface electric phenomena; (iv) chemical physics of mixtures, fuel chemistry; (v) combustion engines.  +44 (0)20 7882 8938      r.slavchov@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Stoyan Smoukov Co-director of Division of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Energy / Reader in Chemical Engineering  +44 (0)20 7882 5305      s.smoukov@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Petra Ágota Szilágyi PhD, MRSC, FHEA, MSc, MA Lecturer in Functional Materials I am interested in developing materials for energy applications, in particular for fuel synthesis. When solid materials are of very small particles their properties (such as colour, electric conductivity. etc.) starts to depend on the particle size. My main goal is to achieve control of the properties of materials by controlling their particle size and shape. There are various ways to control particle size, and in my approach templates of well-defined size and shape are used. The above templates are pores of a kind of material called metal-organic frameworks. This is a relatively new kind of materials and they can enter very diverse interactions with guest materials, which I aim to explore to further tailor the latter's properties.  +44 (0)20 7882 7948      p.szilagyi@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Magdalena Titirici Dr. Rer. Nat. Habil. Professor in Sustainable Materials Chemistry Porous Materials, Energy Storage, CO2 Capture, Biofuels, Fuel Cells, Hydrothermal Carbonization  m.m.titirici@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Roberto  Volpe PhD Lecturer in Chemical Engineering I design pyrolysis and gasification experiments to study the fundamental aspects of biomass thermal decomposition. My expertise ranges from the investigation of the pathways to thermo-chemical breakdown of solid biofuels to the synthesis of renewable carbon materials via thermal processes and the development of sustainable gasification technologies for small-scale applications in Decentralised Renewable Energy Systems  +44 (0)20 7882 7748      r.volpe@qmul.ac.uk

Associate Academic Staff Group Members

Dr Lorenzo Botto PhD Visiting Reader in Fluid Mechanics (primary affiliation: Process & Energy Dept., TU Delft) I am the leader of the Fluids, Particles and Interfaces Group (https://bottogroup.wordpress.com/). I am interested in fluid mechanics and transport phenomena, with particular focus on topics at the interface between classical fluid dynamics and materials science. My group uses simulations and theory, often corroborated by experimental results, to uncover fundamental engineering principles that can be applied to practical problems, in areas such as advanced materials, bioengineering, and energy engineering. Recurring topics of research in the group are the dynamics of particulate materials (suspensions, emulsions, powders, etc.) and the mechanics of soft interfaces. I lead the "Fluid Mechanics of Nanostructured Materials" Special Interest Group of the EPSRC-funded UK Fluids Network.  +44 (0)20 7882 3757      l.botto@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Andrew Buchan BSc MSc PhD Lecturer in Engineering Science I design numerical models for predicting the behaviour and understanding the uncertainties in the operation of nuclear reactor cores and other nuclear processing facilities. In particular I develop mathematical models to accurately predict neutron and gamma transport within nuclear reactors, and couple these to thermal hydraulic codes that model coolant flows and heat transfer within a core. I am particularly interested in analysing both current nuclear reactors as well as those due to be built within the UK in the coming years, in particular the boiling water reactors. I am also heavily involved in the design of new mathematical models that predict the progression/state of a nuclear reactor?s core in the event of severe accident scenarios.  +44 (0)20 7882 6087      a.buchan@qmul.ac.uk

Prof James Busfield MA, PhD, FHEA, FIMMM, CEng Professor of Materials Examining the physical behaviour by experiment and modelling techniques of soft matter such as elastomers and rubber materials. Properties of interest include abrasion, friction, fracture, creep, fatigue, viscoelastic behaviour, modulus enhancement and composite filler reinforcement. Developing smart soft materials that can sense their environment and soft actuating materials that can change shape in response to a physical stimulus.  +44 (0)20 7882 8866      j.busfield@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Julien Gautrot PhD Professor in Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Synthesis and characterisation of biomaterials. Micro- and nano-patterning. Bio-interfaces. Stem cell biology.  +44 (0)20 7882 5263      j.gautrot@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Yi Sui PhD, MInstP, Fellow HEA Reader in Fluid Mechanics  +44 (0)20 7882 7763      y.sui@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Gleb Sukhorukov Professor of Biomedical Materials Physical Chemistry, Biophysics, Materials Science. Area of research: Multifunctional Nanoengineered Delivery Systems  +44 (0)20 7882 5508      g.sukhorukov@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Wen Wang FREng Vice-Principal and Executive Dean Vascular endothelial mechanics, cell mechanobiology, flow and solute transport in extracellular matrices, microcirculation, arterial haemodynamics, cell & tissue mechanics  +44 (0)20 7882 3031      wen.wang@qmul.ac.uk

Postdoc Research Associates

Dr Minerva Bosch Fortea Postdoctoral Research Associate  m.bosch@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Julien Gautrot

Dr Stefania Di Cio MEng Postdoctoral Research Assistant  +44 (0) 20 7882 5301      s.dicio@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Julien Gautrot

Dr Khai Duong Quang Nguyen KTP Postdoctoral Research Assistant  +44 (0)20 7882 7306      k.nguyen@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Julien Gautrot

Dr Simon Gravelle PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant I have a PhD in nanofluidics. My expertise is mostly numerical (molecular dynamics, monte carlo, umbrella sampling, finite elements method). I have also performed experiments using Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.  s.gravelle@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Lorenzo Botto

Mr Chuan Gu Postdoctoral Research Assistant  c.gu@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Lorenzo Botto

Dr Catherine Kamal Ph.D, MSci. Postdoctoral Research Assistant I apply mathematical modelling to engineering challenges relating to soft particles, capsules or vesicles in liquids, with an aim to create testable models of the materials in flow for advance in industrial application. For example, an understanding on the characterisation over the state of aggregation, shape or orientation of the soft nanoparticles in flow could identify new methods used to charactering and sort nanoparticles by their thickness and aspect ratio. Such size and thickness is essential for optimising applications such as polymer reinforcement. I am also interested in modelling physical singularities, such as those involved in moving contact lines.  c.kamal@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Lorenzo Botto

Dr Dexu Kong Postdoctoral Research Associate  +44 (0) 20 7882 5306      d.kong@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Julien Gautrot

Dr Weiqi Li Postdoctoral Research Assistant  +44 (0)20 7882 7821      wei-qi.li@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Wen Wang

Dr Rajesh Madhu M.Sc, M.Phil, PhD Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research Fellow Porous Carbon Materials, Nanocomposites, Electrochemistry, Electrodeposition, Biosensors, Supercapacitors, Fuel Cells  +44 (0)20 7882 5301      r.madhu@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Magdalena Titirici

Dr William Megone Postdoctoral Research Assistant  exx207@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Julien Gautrot

Mr Pierpaolo Modugno ESR Marie-Curie Researcher  p.modugno@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Magdalena Titirici

Miss Sabina Alexandra Nicolae ESR Marie Curie Researcher  sabina.nicolae@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Magdalena Titirici

Dr Arun Prakash Periasamy M.Phil, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Associate I am interested in finding renewable energy sources and developing sustainable methods to create functional materials for fabricating efficient energy devices. My research is focused on the areas of functional materials and electrochemistry in general and more specifically on electrochemical materials for electro(photo)catalysis and energy storage applications. Currently, I am developing soft templating strategies to create porous structured carbons and inorganic perovskite materials with an aim of understanding their structure-property relationships for improving their bifunctional catalytic activity towards oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions in flexible Zn-air battery.  a.prakash@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Ana Jorge Sobrido

Dr Ben Slater PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant I work with functional framework materials known as metal organic and covalent organic frameworks (MOFs and COFs). These materials possess porous channels which can be exploited for a variety of applications. My research looks at utilising these materials for lithium ion conductivity to increase the efficiency and safety of batteries by replacing the liquid electrolytes with a solid.  b.slater@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Petra Ágota Szilágyi

Professional Services

Current PhD Students

Name	Thesis Title	Supervisor
AUGURIO, Adriana	Solution processed nanostructured ferroelectric thin films for photoelectrochemical water splitting	Joe Briscoe
BARR, Meredith	Production of renewable carbon materials for environmental applications via thermochemical reactions.	Roberto Volpe
CHEN, Cheng	Large Eddy Simulation of Supercritical Fuel Injection and Spray Combustion	Xi Jiang
DOSZCZECZKO, Szymon	Bifunctional Hybrid Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction Reactions	Stoyan Smoukov
FORRESTER, Chloe	Ferroelectric-enhanced photovoltaics: synthesis and study of photovoltaic-ferroelectric nanocomposites	Joe Briscoe
GUO, Qian	Hematite-based Photoelectrodes for Photoassisted Oxygen Evolution Reaction	Joe Briscoe
HE, Qinrong	Novel flexible piezoelectric energy harvesters (nanogenerators) for wearable and composite applications	Joe Briscoe
HEROU, Servann	Valorisation of lignin via the production of nanostructured carbon materials for supercapactitive applications.	Magdalena Titirici
KING, James	Metal-organic frameworks: a new approach to control the geometry and surface chemistry of nanocatalysts.	Petra Ágota Szilágyi
LIN, E	Physical and chemical transformations for bottom-up manufacturing	Stoyan Smoukov
LUO, Zhifen	TBC	Edo Boek
LYU, Lei	Predictions of Biomass Pyrolysis and Combustion	Xi Jiang
MALIK, Waqas	Synthesis of carbon based catalysts for the sustainable...	Roberto Volpe
MANISCALCO, Manfredi	TBC	Roberto Volpe
MINGOES, Carlos	Chiral nanohybrids - Photocatalysis with a spin.	Joe Briscoe
MODUGNO, Pierpaolo	Production of magnetic catalysts via Hydrothermal Carbonisation and their use as heterogeneous catalysts for biomass conversion into biofuels	Magdalena Titirici
MOHAN, Lokeshwari	TBC	Joe Briscoe
MOSONIK, Maryanne	Biomass energy for rural Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa	Roberto Volpe
NABI, Raheem	Enhanced Heat Transfer For Engineering Cooling Systems Using CFD For Acoustically Driven Flows.	Xi Jiang
NICOLAE, Sabina	Ph.D. project title: Production of hierarchically porous carbons adsorbents for gas separation (CO2 and H2S adsorption)	Magdalena Titirici
PEYCHEV, Boyan	Interaction between ions and surfaces - 2019 SEMS RIS	Radomir Slavchov
PILEIDIS, Filoklis	Hydrothermal Carbonisation: Materials, Chemicals and Fuels	Magdalena Titirici
RATNASINGHAM, Ryley	TBC	Joe Briscoe
SAFAVI, Seyedeh Masoumeh	TBC	Roberto Volpe
TAGAR, Uroosa	Model based Monitoring of Atmospheric Pollutants in the Environment	Roberto Volpe
TAGHI, Naoual	Extraction of lipids from algae suspensions for biofuel applications	Edo Boek
TIAN, Gengyu	Investigation of new electroactive materials for solar redox flow batteries.	Joe Briscoe
TRAN THI NGOC, Linh	Biomass-derived electrospun fibres / transition metal oxide perovskites for oxygen electrocatalysis applications	Stoyan Smoukov
VICTORIA TAFOYA, Jorge	B-doped Carbon Nano-ribbons for Oxygen Reduction Reaction	Stoyan Smoukov
WANG, Sikun	Advanced Study of Holographic Acoustic Trapping using Ultrasound	Xi Jiang
YANG, Yan	Graphene Quantum Dots for photocatalysis	Magdalena Titirici
YU, Mengwei	Physicochemical Modelling of Multi-Component Liquid Biofuel Combustion	Xi Jiang
YUAN, Haozhen	Development of new photo-ferroelectric materials for photoelectrocatalysis and photovoltaics	Joe Briscoe

PhD Graduates

Name	Thesis Title	Supervisor(s)
2016
MARINOVIC, Adam	Carbon quantum dots via hydrothermal carbonization	Magdalena Titirici