Mengnan is a 3rd year PhD student in the group working on fuel cell electrode development from biomass. Join her with this video to find out some interesting energy material characterisations she did on a typical day.
New Publication on Screening Heteroatom Configurations for Reversible Sloping Capacity Promises High-Power Na-Ion Batteries
Heteroatom doping has been proved to effectively enhance the sloping capacity, nevertheless, the high sloping capacity almost encounters a conflict with the disappointing initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE). Herein, we propose a heteroatom configuration screening strategy by introducing a secondary carbonization process for the phosphate-treated carbons to remove the irreversible heteroatom configurations but with the reversible ones and free radicals remained, achieving a simultaneity between the high sloping capacity and ICE (~250 mAh g-1 and 80%). The Na storage mechanism was also studied based on this “slope-dominated” carbon to revealed the reason of the absence of the plateau. This work could inspire to distinguish and filter the irreversible heteroatom configurations and facilitate the future design of practical “slope-dominated” carbon anodes towards high-power Na-ion batteries.
Click here for the full paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ange.202116394
New Publication on Structural Evolution of Carbon Dots During Low Temperature Pyrolysis
Structural characterisations of carbon dots during low temperature pyrolysis show changes in graphitization and oxygen functionality. These structure features are well-correlated with electronic structure and solid-state optical properties.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/nr/d1nr07015k
New Publication on Ice-Templated, Sustainable Carbon Aerogels with Hierarchically Tailored Channels for Sodium- and Potassium-Ion Batteries
A novel controllable ice-templating strategy is utilized to tailor low-cost cellulose nanocrystal/polyethylene oxide-derived, vertically aligned carbon aerogels (VCAs) as anodes of sodium- and potassium-ion batteries. The construction of hierarchically tailored channels is tuned for shortening ion-transport pathways and ensuring structural integrity. These sustainable VCAs can be easily extended to multiple energy storage systems, demonstrating their universal potential.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202110862
New Publication on Dual-Metal Atom Electrocatalysts
Electrochemical clean energy conversion and the production of sustainable chemicals are critical in the journey to realizing a truly sustainable society. To progress electrochemical storage and conversion devices to commercialization, improving the electrocatalyst performance and cost are of utmost importance. Research into dual-metal atom catalysts (DACs) is rising in prominence due to the advantages of these sites over single-metal atom catalysts (SACs), such as breaking scaling relationships for the adsorption energy of reaction intermediates and synergistic effects. This review provides an examination of the fundamental theoretical principles and experimental electrochemical performance of DACs in idealized half cells, as well as fuel cells, before proceeding to analyze the methods used for producing and identifying DACs. Current challenges and potential future research directions of DACs are also discussed.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aenm.202102715
Congratulations to Dr Sabina Nicolae to be soon!
Congratulations to Sabina Nicolae on passing her PhD viva!
COP26 has begun! Professor Magda Titirici discussed 'Beyond Lithium Ion Batteries'.
In the run up to COP26, Royal Society of Chemistry convened a series of events on chemical science’s role in tackling sustainability and climate change challenges, exploring opportunities and inspirational stories from across the global chemical science community, including many speakers from the Faraday Institution, the UK's flagship battery research programme.
Professor Titirici joined the discussion on beyond lithium ion batteries, covering the cutting edge chemistry underlying next generation battery innovations, their potential, their limitations and their pathways to mass adoption.
Watch the recording here!
Here is the whole series of Chemistry and COP26 events on RSC.
BBC Inside Science Podacast with Professor Magda Titirici
BBC Inside Science is a weekly programme that illuminates the mysteries and challenges the controversies behind the science that's changing our world.
Click here to join Professor Titirici on understanding how food waste may help with the development of a more sustainable generation of batteries.
Professor Magda Titirici on Sky News: using nature inspired materials for energy storage and conversion
Professor Magda Titirici was interviewed on Sky News Climate Live Show on 24 Aug and shared our approaches to tackle the climate crisis by transferring biomass waste into energy storage and conversion materials.
Recording of the interview can be found here.
Professor Magda Titirici has been recognised with the Kavli Medal and Lecture by the Royal Society.
The Kavli Medal and Lecture is awarded annually for excellence in all fields of science and engineering relevant to the environment. The medal is of bronze gilt and is accompanied by a gift of £1,000.
Professor Magda Titirici, Chair in Sustainable Energy Materials in the Department of Chemical Engineering, was awarded the medal for her outstanding contributions to advancing the sustainability of energy storage and conversion technologies by performing interdisciplinary research at the interface between electrochemistry, materials science and chemical engineering.
https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/awards/kavli-medal-lecture/
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/228713/imperial-academic-awarded-royal-society-medal/
New Publication on Iron, Nitrogen Co-Doped Carbon Spheres as Low Cost, Scalable Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Atomically dispersed transition metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts are emerging as low-cost electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells. However, a cost-effective and scalable synthesis strategy for these catalysts is still required, as well as a greater understanding of their mechanisms. Herein, iron, nitrogen co-doped carbon spheres (Fe@NCS) have been prepared via hydrothermal carbonization and high-temperature post carbonization. It is determined that FeN4 is the main form of iron existing in the obtained Fe@NCS. Two different precursors containing Fe2+ and Fe3+ are compared. Both chemical and structural differences have been observed in catalysts starting from Fe2+ and Fe3+ precursors. Fe2+@NCS-A (starting with Fe2+ precursor) shows better catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. This catalyst is studied in an anion exchange membrane fuel cell. The high open-circuit voltage demonstrates the potential approach for developing high-performance, low-cost fuel cell catalysts.
New Publication on Homogenous metallic deposition regulated by defect-rich skeletons for sodium metal batteries
Innovation News Network interviews Professor Titirici about the importance of graphite as a critical material and the latest battery research trends to achieve net zero ambitions.
Professor Magda Titirici outlines the role of graphite in battery technology and how the latest research is helping to shape and achieve net zero targets in the interview with Lisa Carnwell, Managing Editor at Innovation News Network.
https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/graphite-battery-research-road-net-zero/14007
Professor Magda Titirici recognised as distinguished materials scientist
Professor Magda Titirici has been named by the IOM3 as the Griffith Medal and Prize winner 2021 in recognition of her distinguished work in the field of materials science.
Professor Titirici’s award highlights her international recognition in the field of sustainable energy materials, based on her ground-breaking scientific discoveries in sustainable materials energy storage and conversion technologies. To date she has 250 publications with over 25,000 citations, and she has been part of the Clarviate 1% top cited global researchers over the past 4 years.
The judging panel also noted her passion for educating younger sustainable materials scientists of the future and for outreach activities, including her involvement in the ‘I Can Be’ charity which inspires young girls from under-privileged backgrounds to pursue science and engineering.
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/223253/professor-magda-titirici-recognised-distinguished-materials/
Congratulations to Silvia and Mengnan on receiving the Bansal Bursary and Burkett Scholarship
Silvia Fabero is awarded with the Bansal Bursary, which is donated by Dr Vik Bansal (a former graduate of the Department) and presented to the highest ranking of our graduates who continues to do a PhD in the Department in recognition of exceptional merit and potential.
Mengnan Wang is awarded the Burkett Scholarship, which was established in the Department of Chemical Engineering to recognise the outstanding achievements of the PhD student in first or second year. The Scholarship is donated by Dr Richard Burkett, an alumnus of the Department with a distinguished industrial career.
Congratulations to the well-deserved awards!
New generation of supercapacitors set to electrify green transportation
Collabrating with University College London Electrochemical Innovation Lab (UCLEIL), we have produced a cheaper, more sustainable and energy-dense electrode material for supercapacitors which could pave the way for wider market penetration of this high-power, quick charging electric vehicle technology.
doi.org/10.1002/advs.202100016
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/223353/new-generation-supercapacitors-electrify-green-transportation/
Supercapacitors are increasingly used in short-distance electric transportation due to their long lifetime (≈15 years) and fast charging capability (>10 A g−1). To improve their market penetration, while minimizing onboard weight and maximizing space-efficiency, materials costs must be reduced (<10 $ kg−1) and the volumetric energy-density increased (>8 Wh L−1). Carbon nanofibers display good gravimetric capacitance, yet their marketability is hindered by their low density (0.05–0.1 g cm−3). Here, the authors increase the packing density of low-cost, free-standing carbon nanofiber mats (from 0.1 to 0.6 g cm−3) through uniaxial compression. X-ray computed tomography reveals that densification occurs by reducing the inter-fiber pore size (from 1–5 µm to 0.2–0.5 µm), which are not involved in double-layer capacitance. The improved packing density is directly proportional to the volumetric performances of the device, which reaches a volumetric capacitance of 130 F cm−3 and energy density of 6 Wh L−1 at 0.1 A g−1 using a loading of 3 mg cm−2. The results outperform most commercial and lab-scale porous carbons synthesized from bioresources (50–100 F cm−3, 1–3 Wh L−1 using 10 mg cm−2) and contribute to the scalable design of sustainable electrodes with minimal ‘dead volume’ for efficient supercapacitors.
Publication: Progress and Perspectives in Photo- and Electrochemical-Oxidation of Biomass for Sustainable Chemicals and Hydrogen Production
Biomass is recognized as an ideal CO2 neutral, abundant, and renewable resource substitute to fossil fuels. The rich proton content in most biomass derived materials, such as ethanol, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and glycerol allows it to be an effective hydrogen carrier. The oxidation derivatives, such as 2,5-difurandicarboxylic acid from HMF, glyceric acid from glycerol are valuable products to be used in biodegradable polymers and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, combining biomass-derived compound oxidation at the anode and hydrogen evolution reaction at the cathode in a biomass electrolysis or photo-reforming reactor would present a promising strategy for coproducing high value chemicals and hydrogen with low energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This review aims to combine fundamental knowledge on photo and electro-assisted catalysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the general reaction mechanisms of different biomass-derived molecule oxidation. At the same time, catalyst requirements and recent advances for various feedstock compounds are also reviewed in detail. Technoeconomic assessment and life cycle analysis are performed on various feedstocks to assess the relative benefits of various processes, and finally critical prospects are given on the challenges and opportunities for technology development to meet the sustainability requirement of the future global energy economy.
Professor Titirici at the House of Lords
Professor Titirici had a discussion on critical materials for batteries, fuel cells and electric motors together with Prof Herrington from National History Museum, Dr Anderson from the Birmingham Energy Institute and Dr Petavratzi from Brirtish Geological Survey.
Watch the full discussion at Parliamentlive.tv
parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/c1e06ecf-bdab-4638-a740-b9be9a69010f
Congratulation to Dr. Alptekin to be soon.
Congratulations to Hande Alptekin onpassing her PhD viva! This time we celebrated with a real hat and real hugs.
Strategies for High Energy Density Dual‐Ion Batteries Using Carbon‐Based Cathodes
The rapid-growing demands for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have raised concerns over lithium's scarcity as well as the scarcity of other materials and components used in LIBs. Tremendous efforts have been dedicated to investigating alternative technologies. Dual-ion batteries (DIBs) represent an emerging battery technology with an attractive future such as high working voltage and a high-power density enabled by a “nonrocking chair” operation. Research in DIBs is still at an early stage. The energy density of DIBs remains a challenge to solve, especially in comparison with LIBs. This review highlights current challenges in the research on DIBs from different aspects, including undesirable graphite exfoliation during ions intercalation, limited choices of cathode materials, unstable electrolytes, battery safety, and discusses potential strategies for addressing these challenges. Perspectives for exploring the next-generation DIBs with high energy density are also provided.
