Harnessing Nanotechnology for Self-Powered Wireless Electronics

Exploring nanostructured light absorbers: from optoelectronics to innovative photovoltaics

Towards Thermally Resilient Photovoltaics: Optimising Perovskite Crystal Dynamics for Thermal Cycling Stable Solar Cells

To develop resilient halide perovskite structures to withstand extremely environmental conditions

Multifunctional High Entropy Carbide and Boride Ceramic Composites: Compositional Space, Novel Synthesis, and Property Tailoring

Repairable Halide Perovskites for Sustainable Next Generation Photovoltaics

To develop sustainable perovskite solar modules by enabling on-device self-repairing functions

Utilisation of Synthetic Fuels for “Difficult-to-Decarbonise” Propulsion (EP/X019551/1)

Decarbonising the transport sector is a top priority worldwide. The difficult-to-decarbonise transport applications (including mainly shipping, road freight and aviation) emit more than 50% CO2 of the entire transport sector. Among efforts on developing low-emission fuels, liquid synthetic fuels that can massively reduce pollutant emissions are drawing increasing attention, as they can be integrated into the current transportation system using existing infrastructure and combusted in existing engines (such as diesel engines for optimal fuel economy) with minor adjustments as drop-in fuels. Liquid synthetic fuels such as oxymethylene ethers (OMEx, which possess liquid properties similar to diesel when x=3-5) can be produced from a range of waste feedstocks and biomass, thereby avoiding new fossil carbon from entering the supply chain. OMEx can also be produced as an electrofuel (or e-fuel), thereby used as a sustainable energy carrier. However, due to the lack of complete knowledge of the physicochemical properties associated with the fuel composition variability, i.e. variation in the oligomer length (the x value of OMEx) and the composition variation of OMEx-diesel blends in real engine environment, there are challenges in utilising OMEx in practical engines, mainly in engine and its operation adjustments for optimal performance and minimal pollutant emissions. To address the technical issues of OMEx utilisation, accurate information on physicochemical properties and pollutant emissions of the synthetic fuels over the engine operational ranges is mandatory, but this is not readily available. This project is intended to obtain a thorough understanding on liquid synthetic fuel utilisation. The project will address the fundamental challenges in utilising renewable synthetic fuels, in particular OMEx and the associated OMEx-diesel fuel blends. The study will follow a combined modelling / simulation - experimentation approach, predicting the physicochemical properties including emission characteristics of the alternative fuels using molecular dynamics simulations, tailor-made experimentation for first-hand information on fuel utilisation, and establishing a database / mapping to guide the synthetic fuel utilisation in real engines over a wide range of conditions using machine learning.**

From 2D to 4D: correlative imaging and modelling for next-generation automotive

FENCES: FErroelectric NanoComposites for Enhanced Solar energy efficiency

Solar photovoltaics (PVs) and sustainable fuel production from photocatalysis have emerged as alternative technologies to fossil fuels. However, these technologies need innovative methods to improve and increase their efficiency and keep their costs low. The EU-funded FENCES project will demonstrate an innovative mechanism relying on the phenomenon of the bulk PV effect in ferroelectrics. The mechanism will combine ferroelectrics and photoactive materials in nanocomposite thin films to increase solar energy efficiency. FENCES will design and synthesise optimal ferroelectric nanostructures and control their characteristics. The project will also develop precise device models to accurately explain and predict device behaviour and use these models to predict optimal materials.**

Prevention of phase-separation of corrosive aqueous acidic solution out of liquid carbon dioxide - SEMS Industry-supported PhD studentship

Bacterial nanocellulose -based polymer composites as solid polymer electrolyte for metal ion-batteries

(RECYCLENS) Enhancing Confidence in the Use of Recycled Polymers and Composites via Electrical Sensing

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.  **

HIPES MSCA PF 2022

Material, process and development of a novel composite, layered, plastic-free leather alternative derived from waste brewery grain

Energy filtering for high Seebeck voltages in ordered nanocomposites

ESTEEM - Sustainable manufacturing for future composites

With only 1% of energy consumption compared to current manufacturing methods, high performance composites with integrated new functions like deformation and damage sensing as well as de-icing will be manufactured without needs of even an oven. This new method will be tuned to fully comply with the processing requirements of existing high performance composite systems, reducing costs in capital investment, operational, and maintenance aspects. The new functions will also provide real-time health monitoring of components' structural integrity to enable condition based maintenance with high reliability.

Paragraf support fund 2

Maximising Efficiency of Liquid Phase Oligo Synthesis

CELLCOMP: Data-driven Mechanistic Modelling of Scalable Cellular Composites for Crash Energy Absorption

The recently funded EPSRC New Investigator Award project, led by Dr. Wei Tan from Queen Mary’s Mechanics of Composite Materials Group (MCM), will create an intelligent data-driven virtual testing tool to assess an emerging type of lightweight materials, known as synthetic cellular composites (CCs). Dr Jinlong Fu is currently the postdoc working on this project.    Materials found in nature are typically lightweight, strong and resilient to external loadings due to their hierarchical structures and material compositions. CCs are porous cellular materials inspired by natural materials such as wood. With unique combinations of multiple material constituents and architecture, CCs can absorb higher crash energy than many existing single-constituent cellular materials such as polymer foams and honeycombs. It is thought that the use of CCs could improve the crashworthiness of future transportation vehicles, however the lack of scalable manufacturing techniques and reliable models for crash assessments have prevented the wider adoption of these materials. The new project aims to accelerate the transition to net zero, supporting future vehicles to reach similar levels of crashworthiness to current fossil-fuel powered cars, at a relatively low cost. Moving safely towards net zero The biggest challenges holding back the shift towards zero emission vehicles are safety concerns, low mileage range and high purchase prices. In terms of safety, the main threat to passengers is the potential for fire or explosion in a crash due to the high levels of energy stored in the batteries or fuel cells of these vehicles. For this project, Queen Mary researchers form a consortium in collaboration with leading experts from Imperial College London, Delft University of Technology and University of Washington and industrial partners (Q-Flo Ltd and Ultima Forma Ltd) to address the challenges in developing lightweight cellular composites for future zero emission vehicles. Together, the research team will integrate computational modelling and data-driven methods to design the architected cellular composites and ultimately, improve the crashworthiness of future vehicles. The emergence of cellular composites will deliver enhanced crashworthiness and operational efficiencies of transportation vehicles, which will improve the safety and mileage range of future vehicles. Through this project we aim to bridge solid mechanics, materials engineering and data science to enable rapid discovery, design and prototyping of scalable energy-absorbing materials. Wider impact To support this project the researchers will develop a novel data-driven computational design tool for designing crashworthy structures that also has relevance for other sectors including aerospace and rail industries. The technology developed in this project is also transferable to other sectors, and could benefit researchers working on other porous cellular materials used in applications ranging from thermal insulation foams and battery electrodes, to artificial tissue scaffolds. Our project will also help to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in engineering design, addressing one of the Grand Challenges outlined by the Government for future UK industrial leadership.**

Single crystal perovskite fibre

In this project, we will explore the application of single-crystal perovskite fibres.

Transforming synthetic drug manufacturing: novel processes, methods and tools

Transforming synthetic drug manufacturing: novel processes, methods and tools

Exploring the utility of transfer learning for describing material properties

High Performance Thermoelectric Film with Organic-Inorganic Van der Waals Heterostructures

Designing electrochemical interfaces for ultradurable sodium-ion batteries

Circular economy elastomer products

The sustainability of rubber products is a major global challenge mainly due to the huge amount of rubber waste generated each year. Furthermore, many elastomer products including most car tyres are manufactured from fossil fuel-based materials, which are not renewable. This proposed research programme aims to tackle these challenges by manufacturing novel circular economy elastomer products from renewable biobased feedstocks, with zero waste, high resource efficiency and no reliance on fossil fuels, thus transforming the elastomer sector.**

MAXIM-Mitigating the Ecotoxicological Impact of Perovskite Solar Cells

This project aims to develop low Pb leaching rate perovskite materials for use in high performance and eco-friendly perovskite solar cells, building upon knowledge framework on the relationships between perovskite semiconductors’ materials structure and their ecotoxicity.**

Molecular separations membranes for high boiling green solvents