New publication – Carbon Nitrides for Water Electrolyzer Applications.

Carbon Nitride Materials as Efficient Catalyst Supports for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers, AB Jorge, I Dedigama, TS Miller, P Shearing, DJL Brett, PF McMillan, Nanomaterials, 2018, 8, 432-447.

Abstract

Carbon nitride materials with graphitic to polymeric structures (gCNH) were investigated as catalyst supports for the proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers using IrO₂ nanoparticles as oxygen evolution electrocatalyst. Here, the performance of IrO₂nan o particles formed and deposited in situ onto carbon nitride support for PEM water electrolysis was explored based on previous preliminary studies conducted in related systems. The results revealed that this preparation route catalyzed the decomposition of the carbon nitride to form a material with much lower N content. This resulted in a significantenhancement of the performance of the gCNH-IrO₂ (or N-doped C-IrO₂) electrocatalyst that was likely attributed to higher electrical conductivity of the N-doped carbon support.

NPU-QMUL 2nd Summer School and Workshop 11th-15th June 2018

We are pleased to announce that the 2nd QMUL-NPU Summer School and Workshop – Energy Nanomaterials will take place from the 11th to 15th June 2018.

This event will host 15 PhD students and 8 academic researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University, NPU, one of China’s top universities with which QMUL has formed a partnership and established a Joint Educational Institute. They will share their research with QMUL researchers through presentations from students and staff from both institutions.

Have a look at the final programme!

 

Visit to Universidad de Antioquia in Colombia

We have recently visited the Universidad de Antioquia within the framework of a Newton Institutional Links project in collaboration with Prof. Diana Lopez and also Prof Magda Titirici (QMUL). The project focuses in developing biomass-derived carbons from Colombian palm tree waste for energy applications. Below some pictures with students and academics from Colombia during our visit.

CAM-IES grant awarded to develop Biomass-derived Free-standing Electrodes for Redox Flow Batteries

The group has been awarded a CAM-IES grant (May 2018-May 2019) to develop new free-standing electrodes for redox flow batteries based on biomass-derived carbons. This project will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Rhodri Jervis at the EIL, UCL Chemical Engineering Department.

ABSTRACT. Redox flow batteries represent a remarkable low cost and durable alternative for grid-scale energy storage. They often employ carbon felts or papers as the electrodes, but the activity towards the redox reactions are often poor, leading to low operating power densities. Additionally, the complex flow characteristics of the electrodes are often not well understood. This project will synthesise novel electrode structures from sustainable carbon sources via electrospinning, which will allow control of physical characteristics such as porosity, surface area and fibre size, but also to incorporate chemical species that help enhance the kinetics of the redox processes. Advanced x-ray imaging will provide a unique insight into the microstructural properties of the electrodes, and electrochemical testing in a full flow battery system will help identify new materials that will lead to improved flow battery performance and durability. The project will take advantage of already existing expertise and equipment at UCL and QMUL and will look to provide a proof of concept as a springboard for further funding and research. The rapid feedback of characterisation into the synthesis of the electrodes will allow expedited identification of desirable chemical and structural properties for the next generation of flow batteries.

Welcome Abdoulhamid Awalo

Welcome Abdoulhamid ! Abdoulhamid has just joined the group to do an internship as part of his MSc in France. He will be working on redox flow batteries. You can learn more about him here.

“Carbon nitrides: synthesis and characterization of a new class of functional materials” selected as 2017 PCCP HOT article

Our Perspective Article on Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Carbon Nitrides: Synthesis and Characterization of a New Class of Functional Materials” has been announced as one of the 2017 PCCP HOT Articles collection, which is now online and free to access until the end of February 2018. This collection showcases all 2017 Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP) articles highlighted as HOT by the handling editor.