Dr Roberto Volpe
PhD
Research Overview
Pyrolysis, Renewable carbons, Synchrotron-based X-ray micro CT, Water remediation, Synthetic composite tissues, Catalysis
Interests
Providing pathways for low emissions renewable based technologies to ensure secure and sustainable energy supplies and renewable carbon materials has been a goal during many years of research and currently one of UK national importance for ‘Achieving energy security and efficiency’ and 'Transform to a sustainable society, with a focus on the circular economy'. I concentrate my research on the thermochemical conversion of biomass via pyrolysis and gasification.
Much of the technological challenges facing biomass pyrolysis and gasification, relate to current lack of fundamental knowledge of biomass thermochemical breakdown. I design experiments to fill these knowledge gaps, break through existing barriers towards the development of technologies for sustainable energy and renewable carbons for environmental and biomedical applications.
My main current research interests are:
- In situ, synchrotron-based study of morphology of pyrolysing biomass, via X-ray micro CT.
- Synthesis of polymeric/pyrolytic carbons composite tissues for biomedical applications.
- Synthesis of renewable catalysts for Oxygen reduction reaction and CO2 conversion