Author: Ana Belen Jorge Sobrido

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 Pavel ! Pavel has just joined the group to do a PhD on B-doped C nanoribbons for ORR in PEM Fuel Cells. You can learn more about him here.

Welcome Linh ! Linh has just joined the group to do a PhD on oxygen electrocatalysis in collaboration with RISE in Sweden. You can learn more about her here.

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.

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.

On the 23rd January it took place a great workshop organised by RISE in Stockholm, Sweden. The workshop looked into fostering collaborations between research groups working on lignin-based products applied to energy technologies. We hope this meeting will lead to fruitful collaborations. Below some pictures of the beautiful and snowy University of Stockholm.

Last Thursday 14th December we celebrated our Christmas Dinner at The De Beauvoir Arms, in North London. We shared a great evening and even Secret Santa came to the party! Thank you all!

Last Friday 8th December, it took place the 2nd MRI Christmas Symposium at QMUL. We had great talks given by PhD students and PDRA from different Schools at QMUL, part of the Materials Research Institute. Below you can see the programme. We look forward to the next MRI Symposium which will take place next Spring.

Below some pictures with the winners of the best poster and best talk of this year.