Current research

This project develops novel LCA models to assess the resource and environmental implications of deploying hydrogen fuelled vehicles in the UK’s light and heavy duty road fleets. Cheryl will consider the current and future mix of hydrogen production routes, vehicle manufacture, use and end-of-life vehicle management.

Professor Jon McKechnie

Aramco

Measurement challenges for hydrogen fuel cells are preventing the overall sector from growing. The project Stephen is looking at aims to develop a cylinder passivation technology, providing temporal stability data for the 14 trace contaminants outlined in ISO 14687-2. 

Dr Ben Buckley, Professor Upul Wijayantha, Dr Paul Holland.

EffecTech

Green hydrogen production from weather dependent low carbon generation is an area of growth signposted in the UK Committee on Climate Change’s 6th Carbon Budget (published December 2020); which provides UK Government Ministers with advice on the volume of greenhouse gases the UK can emit during the period 2033-2037. Katarina’s research will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of green hydrogen generation at a local level, specifically within the West Midlands Combined Authority area.

Dr Grant Wilson, Professor Bushra Al-Duri.

It is desirable to maximise performance of hydrogen refuelling stations, not just for economic reasons, but to deliver the best customer experience. Salim's project seeks to optimise the plant operation, where planning preventative maintenance can help reduce disruption to service and improve the commercial case of a plant.

Dr Rasa Remenyte-Prescott, Prof. Gavin Walker, Dr Matt Lees,

Dr Philip Wilson         

ITM Power

Amit is looking at existing energy systems and potential hydrogen technologies on economic, technological, and engineering grounds to evaluate their potential for successful adoption. He will also analyse how they support or hinder development of these technologies, and give an understanding of what needs to change.

Professor Monica Giulietti, Prof. David Saal, Prof. Upul Wijayantha. 

Hydrogen employed in sustainable and emission-reducing projects needs to be sourced from ‘green’ feedstock and energy. Nevertheless, the majority of hydrogen sold today is ‘black’ and produced by steam reforming of natural gas. There are cost issues. Joseph is looking into how green hydrogen can be costed, so that it is more compatible working with today’s energy system. 

Professor Robert Steinberger-Wilckens.

Ruth's project assesses metal-semiconductor combinations for suitability as photocatalysts for the generation of hydrogen from water. Materials based on Nb semiconductors with metals such as Co, Cu, Ni or Mo will be explored. They will be synthesised, characterized and tested for the generation of hydrogen from water.

Dr Anabel Lanterna, Professor Elena Besley.

The challenge with current proton exchange membrane water electrolysers (PEMWE) is poor power performance and durability; mainly caused by large mass transfer losses and degradation of electrode structure, from random electrode structure from catalyst nanoparticles. Alexandra will seek to develop a new generation of catalyst electrodes from aligned IrO2- and metal oxide-based nanowires for PEMWE applications; taking advantage of the high stability of nanowires and boosted mass transfer characteristics of nanowire arrays unique thin catalyst layers.

Dr Shanfeng Du, Dr Neil Rees.

Molecular hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts allow efficient hydrogen production from water under mild conditions. Adedayo will research development of fully tailorable molecular clusters based on molybdenum/tungsten and sulfur/oxygen. Systems will be combined with conductive nanocarbon materials to develop highly efficient composite electrocatalysts for the water splitting reaction. The stability and efficiency of these systems will be explored during prolonged electrolysis. 

Dr Graham Newton, Dr Lee Johnson.

The gas network currently supplies natural gas to consumers but could instead supply gases, such as hydrogen, in the future. Thermo-catalytic decomposition of methane allows enrichment of natural gas with hydrogen, a carbon-free fuel. Mickella's research is focused on the development of this technology and the incorporation of wind energy.

Dr James Reynolds, Professor Sandie Dann and Professor David Saal.

Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

Kieran's project investigates hydrothermal conversion of algal biomass to H2-rich gas, in a sustainable circular approach. It looks at optimising the catalyst, feedstock and operating conditions to increase the hydrogen yield; whilst maximising the nutrient recovery.

Professor Bushra Al-Duri, Dr Rafael Orozco, Professor Lynne Macaskie.

Catalyst development for low-cost large-scale sustainable hydrogen production from seawater and renewable energy. Adam is looking at the oxygen evolution and hydrogen production, via seawater splitting, driven by renewable energy. He is interested in the production and utilisation of low-cost, highly efficient and highly selective catalysts for the process. 

Professor Wen-Feng Lin, Professor Jin Xuan, Dr Darren Walsh. 

Research area: Photocatalytic covalent organic frameworks for hydrogen production and storage. Jai undertakes research into the use of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for hydrogen production and storage, as apposed to the popular MOF alternative. The project involves the synthesis of new molecules which can be functionalised onto the surface of COFs; creating photocatalytic and size-specific channels which will permit hydrogen production from water and selective ingress, storage and egress.

Dr Iain Wright, Dr Simon Kondrat. 

Mulako's project aims to develop technical and business models, and processes that will enable hydrogen produced from renewable energy to be utilised for cooking.This process is understood; however, the system needs not just the right technology, it also needs the development of the right business model, human capacity and social acceptance to bring about the transformation of traditional cooking practices. 

Dr Richard Blanchard, Professor Upul Wijayantha, Dr Alastair Livesey.

The development of composite systems, based on molecular metal oxide nanoclusters and ionic liquids, is being investigated by Courtney. The ionic liquids will allow the stabilisation of the molecular catalysts into thin films, membranes and 3D-printed superstructures. Then research will be undertaken to explore the stability and efficiency of these systems during prolonged electrolysis. 

Dr Graham Newton, Dr Darren Walsh, Dr Lee Johnson.

Aryamman's project aims to design, develop and test hydrogen generation reactor suitable for advanced catalyst, that demonstrate high H2 yield and efficient carbon separation. Natural gas into hydrogen and graphite has the potential to be highly disruptive and presents substantial value, if the process can be scaled up to commercial quantities. 

Professor Weeratunge Malalasekera, Professor Upul Wijayantha.

Jack’s research is designed to investigate the systematic alteration of process conditions to obtain value-added solid carbon, specifically for energy storage, whilst still maintaining a high yield of hydrogen. Initial studies have been conducted to improve the methane cracking process to increase yield and longevity. By-product carbon has separated in batch processes and been studied in electrochemical supercapacitors, demonstrating a high rate of performance compared to commercial carbon used for supercapacitor manufacturing. These results suggest lowering the cost of turquoise hydrogen, by finding applications for by-product carbon, is promising. Further studies are currently underway to separate by-product carbon in real-time operation (as opposed to batch process) and evaluate their performance in applications.

Professor Upul Wijayantha, Dr Niladri Banerjee.

Ammonia’s use as a hydrogen rich energy vector – not just for more efficiently moving energy to different markets but also for direct combustion of ammonia as a fuel decarbonising heavy vehicle use in road freight, rail and marine sectors – is attracting interest.

Production of ammonia (via Haber Bosch process) requires high temperatures (300-450°C) and pressure (150-200 bar). This makes the process unsuitable for small scale intermittent ammonia generation, for example via distributed generation coupled with wind or solar renewable energy. More agile ammonia synthesis needs a catalyst operating at lower temperature/pressure. Ruthenium is currently the only catalyst that has acceptable kinetics at low temperatures. 

Bakhtawar’s project will investigate sustainable catalysts, avoiding resource limited platinum group metals.

Professor Gavin Walker, Dr Marcus Adams, Dr Matthew Wadge.

Antonia is developing novel catalysts for the dehydrogenation of mixed metal borohydride ammoniates, and seeks to elucidate the mechanisms involved in order to improve reaction conditions and selectivity.

Professor Deborah Kays, Professor Gavin Walker.

Ed is using neutron spectroscopy to study reaction intermediate speciation and diffusional properties of cobalt catalysed CO/CO2 hydrogenation and borohydride decomposition, for hydrogen storage.

Dr Simon Kondrat, Professor Sandie Dann, Professor Ian Silverwood.

Diamond

Development of volumetric efficient solid-state hydrogen storage materials is crucial for transport sector decarbonisation. Magnesium hydride nanoparticles are among the most promising H2 storage materials, due to high H2 storage capacity (7.6 wt.%) and low cost ($3/kg). However, slow kinetics and high working temperature (ca. 250 ⁰C) limit commercial application for onboard H2 storage. To improve its properties (higher kinetics, lower temperature) Thomas’s project will utilise metal nanoclusters (MNCs); which are fundamentally different compared to more widely used metal nanoparticles (diameters >2 nm), where majority of metal atoms remain ‘hidden’ within the lattice, excluded from participation in useful chemistry.

Dr Jesum Alves Fernandes, Professor David Grant.

Diamond

Samuel's project aims to understand the composition-structure-property correlations of solid-state hydrogen storage materials, through accurate density functional theory simulations of existing and hypothetical materials. The most promising candidate materials discovered from the simulations will be synthesised and characterised, and their hydrogen storage properties will be validated by experiments. 

Dr Sanliang Ling, Professor Gavin Walker, Professor David Grant.

Catalytic acceptorless alcohol dehydrogenation is an atom-economical approach for alcohol oxidation, without need for an oxidant.

Reversible dehydrogenation/hydrogenation catalysis from this reaction provides a route to the use of organic molecules derived from biomass as liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs). Alcohols such as ethylene glycol, glycerol and the C4-C6 analogues erythritol, xylitol and sorbitol are considered to be potentially useful biomass-derived feedstocks; derived from agricultural or lumber resources, including waste streams and gravimetric hydrogen storage capacities, meeting targets set by the EU and the US Department of Energy. 

Isabelle’s project will investigate a range of low coordinate and pincer complexes of the first-row transition metals in order to achieve the acceptorless dehydrogenation reactions and, with appropriate candidates, investigate the possibility of undertaking the reverse reaction with addition of H2.

Professor Deborah Kays, Professor Peter Licence.

Alex's project aims to experimentally synthesise new metal alloys shortlisted by computational screening; and characterise their physical, chemical and structural nature along with their thermodynamic and kinetic properties, during hydrogenation and de-hydrogenation.

Professor David Grant, Professor Gavin Walker, Dr Sanliang Ling, Dr Kandavel Manickam.

Less Common Metals Ltd

Oliver is applying machine learning models to run accurate molecular dynamic simulations, with an emphasis on understanding the (de)hydrogenation reactions in metal hydrides. A more detailed understanding of these reactions will inform the selection of improved hydrogen storage materials.

Dr Sanliang Ling, Professor Gavin Walker, Professor David Grant.  

Here Una is investigating boron-based and nitrogen-based complex hydrides which will be synthesized by chemical and mechanochemical routes (or sourced); and their hydrogen storage, electrical, and thermal properties will be assessed in detail.

Dr Daniel Reed, Professor David Book.

Jacob undertakes research into mixed metal borohydride ammoniates (MMBAs) as alternative hydrogen storage materials. He is interested in the synthesis of novel MMBAs, elucidating the reaction mechanisms responsible for the decomposition process and investigating catalysts to accelerate the release of hydrogen.

Professor Gavin Walker, Professor David Grant, Dr Kandavel Manickam.

Chris's research looks into the application of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to samples in high-pressure environments. He is particularly interested in developing a method which extends XPS to pressures compatible with hydrogen storage.

Dr James O’Shea, Professor Gavin Walker, Professor David Grant.

Compact hydrogen storage is a challenge for hydrogen vehicles, with current vessels being too large and operating at high pressures. Solid state metal hydrides (MH) can store large quantities of hydrogen in smaller volumes and at lower pressure but have not made it to market, as suitable vessels have not been developed. Yassin's project will investigate the design and manufacture of a new compact MH storage vessel.

Dr Ian Maskery, Professor Gavin Walker. 

Developing efficient sensor materials with superior performance for selective, fast and sensitive hydrogen detection is essential for environmental protection and human health. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) – crystalline and porous solid materials constructed from metal nodes (metal ions or clusters) and functional organic ligands – are of interest for gas sensing for their large surface area, adjustable pore size, tunable functional sites and intriguing properties; such as electrical conductivity, magnetism, ferroelectricity, luminescence and chromism. 

Emily’s project aims to fabricate novel multi-functional MOFs with improved sensitivity and stability for hydrogen detection. 

Dr Oluwafunmilola Ola, Professor Gavin Walker, Professor Elena Besley.

H2 is a high quality and clean energy carrier. Most hydrogen is produced by steam methane reforming, followed by water-gas shift reaction, with bio-hydrogen production increasing. Before hydrogen is used in fuel cell and other applications CO2 and CH4 resulting from production processes has to be removed. Membrane-based separation technologies are promising alternatives to conventional separation technologies, i.e: pressure swing adsorption, due to low energy consumption. 

Niko’s project will explore development of metal-organic frameworks (MOF)/polymer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with enhanced H2 selectivity, to enable membrane based H2 purification.

Dr Begum Tokay, Dr  Andrea Laybourn

National Grid

Hydrogen is used in the conventional production of sintered (rare earth) neodymium-iron-boron magnets and in the recycling of these materials. In recent years new methods to manufacture rare earth magnets based on a process called the Hydrogen Ductilisation Process have been found. This process reduces the number of processing steps, reduces waste and could give a significant economic advantage to magnet manufacture.

However, the process is far from optimised and the aim of Patrick’s project will be to develop this process.

Professor Allan Walton, Dr Richard Sheridan, Professor David Book.

Most hydrogen used today is produced from fossil fuels. Product gases consist mainly of H2 and CO2, and other impurity gases (CH4 and CO). Energy efficient and low-cost hydrogen separation constitutes a crucial process to move towards a hydrogen economy. 

Luke’s project aims to achieve energy efficient and low-cost hydrogen separation using proton-conducting ceramic membranes for hydrogen rich streams, generated through reforming of natural gas, as well as onsite purification of hydrogen close to the point of end use for dilute hydrogen streams.

Dr Ming Li, Dr Begum Tokay, Professor David Grant.

The project Hazhir is exploring aims to close knowledge gaps associated with safety of high-pressure hydrogen storage relevant to hydrogen-fuelled transport; and to develop novel engineering models for such areas as predicting thermal condition of tank structure, safe fuelling and defueling of onboard tanks and prevention of tank rupture in a fire, etc. 

Dr Dmitriy Makarov, Professor Vladimir Molkov.

Pursuit of a low carbon economy means practical implementation of zero-emission applications, including hydrogen-fuelled heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) such as buses and trucks. Hydrogen’s use in public transport implies stringent bus design requirements. 

Atish’s project will review ‘old’ and new HDV hazards of different designs and sectors; identifying and analysing existing prevention and mitigation safety strategies, engineering solutions, knowledge gaps and technological bottlenecks in provision of HDV safety. 

Dr Sergii Kashkarov, Dr Dmitriy Makarov, Professor Vladimir Molkov.

The scope of Mina's doctoral study includes the identification and prioritisation of relevant knowledge gaps, performing analytical and numerical studies to close identified knowledge gaps; and the development of innovative safety strategies and engineering solutions to prevent and mitigate accidents with hydrogen powered vehicles in confined infrastructures, specifically carparks. 

Dr Sile Brennan, Dr Dmitriy Makarov, Professor Vladimir Molkov.

The use of ammonia in industries and its transportation offers practical, cost-effective storage and transport of large quantities of hydrogen.

Using ammonia as hydrogen carrier, calls for a reassessment of hazards and risks. Srinivas's project aims to develop safety strategies and solutions for handling large quantities of ammonia used as a hydrogen carrier during transport, storage onboard and using in relevant infrastructure.

Dr Dmitriy Makarov, Professor Vladimir Molkov, Dr Volodymyr Shentsov.

The remit of the project Harvey is undertaking involves the design and synthesis of new odour additives for hydrogen storage, and then benchmarking them against the current industry standard(s). 

Dr Marc Kimber, Dr Gareth Pritchard.

Samir's research builds upon significant existing investment that created a unique hydrogen research facility at the Creative Energy Homes. The project will produce a working demonstrator, including control for hydrogen as a Novel Multi-Energy Vector  for Hydrogen Energy Generation-Storage-Use in the built environment. 

Professor Mark Gillott, Professor Gavin Walker.

Will is undertaking research in Turbulent Jet Ignition technology, enabling the use of ammonia as a fuel. Specific interests surround producing a zero carbon internal combustion engine platform, that gives similar efficiencies to a larger fuel cell vehicle. 

Prof Alasdair Cairns, Dr Antonino La Rocca, Dr Richard Jefferson-Loveday. 

Zak's project seeks to redesign the domestic boiler so that hydrogen can be used as a network fuel.

At the moment because methane, which is currently used, burns quite differently from hydrogen our current domestic boilers cannot be used.  

Dr Donald Giddings, Professor David Grant, Professor Robin Irons.

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