| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/N00938X/1 |
| Title: |
Ultra-small Metal Particles for the Storage and Conversion of CO2, CH4 and H2 |
| Principal Investigator: |
Szilagyi, Dr P A |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Pharm., Chem. & Environmental Sci., FES |
| Organisation: |
University of Greenwich |
| Scheme: |
First Grant - Revised 2009 |
| Starts: |
01 December 2015 |
Ends: |
30 November 2017 |
Value (£): |
100,297
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Carbon Capture & Storage |
Catalysis & Applied Catalysis |
| Sustainable Energy Vectors |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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23 Sep 2015
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EPSRC Physical Sciences Chemistry - September 2015
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
The present project proposes a new approach to replace fossil fuels by man-made ones using ultra-small metal particles.
Our current energy needs are met by fossil fuels. This approach however is unsustainable owing to the different timescales of fuel production and combustion, the latter of which also generates greenhouse gases, changing the climate globally. On the other hand, uneven occurrence and distribution of sustainable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, warrants energy storage. Nature stores the Sun's energy as reduced carbon, e.g. coal, oil and gas. The present proposal will also employ this approach.
Context
Heterogeneous catalyst activity is dependent on the catalyst's surface area. With decreasing catalyst size, the surface-to-volume ratio increases, leading to improved activities. This could lead to the assumption that single atoms have the highest catalytic activity. However, size reduction may also alter the materials' physical and chemical properties related to the delocalisation of free electrons. Chemical reactivity of transition-metals is not only dependent on the atom numbers in a cluster but also on their arrangement, i.e. shape, owing to the spatial properties of d orbitals. In order to design transition-metal catalysts with selective and enhanced catalytic activity, it is thus crucial to establish the relationship between particle geometry and reactivity.
Aims and Objectives
The proposed project, will focus on ultra-small transition-metal particles, in the 1-50 atom range, supported on highly porous metal-organic frameworks. The particles' geometry-catalytic activity relationship will be explored for the conversion of feedstock harvested from air (CH4 and CO2) and water (H2) into synthetic fuels.
The proposed project will first develop methods to synthesise shape- and size-controlled ultra-small metal particles using metal-organic frameworks as templates. The greatest challenge is identified as increased surface energy, a consequence of the increased surface-to-volume ratio. High surface energy in turn compromises the thermodynamic stability of particles and renders their size control difficult. Geometry control of the ultra-small transition-metal particles will be achieved by establishing strong metal-support interactions by i) preliminary computational calculations in collaboration with Prof Thomas Heine and ii) the application of metal-organic frameworks with chemical functionalities capable of selective host-guest interactions, which is herein proposed for the first time.
Subsequently, the activity of the stable ultra-small transition-metal catalysts will be explored for the conversion of methane into longer chain hydrocarbons, the conversion of carbon dioxide through reduction with H2 (or CH4) and the activation and storage of hydrogen under mild conditions. Thanks to the PI's experience in both the functionalisation of metal-organic frameworks and their application as support for metal nanoparticles, together with her unique skillset in coordination and physical chemistry, and gas technologies, she is ideally placed to carry out this interdisciplinary and ambitious research.
Applications and Benefits
The particles will have various properties depending on their size and shape and will be exploited for ambient-temperature hydrogen storage, and the catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen. Synthesis of fuels from pollutants such as CO2 and CH4 will reduce atmospheric pollution and convert them into more valuable chemicals while making use of already existing distribution infrastructures. The development of renewable, low-carbon energy carriers will benefit our society for energy security and the reduction of atmospheric pollutant levels.
The proposed project will also accrue technology for gas sensing, drug delivery, electronics, water purification, gas separation, and in fuel cell and battery research.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.gre.ac.uk |