Projects
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| Reference Number | UKRI1106 | |
| Title | In operando visualisation of electrochemistry in flow; to accelerate the development of electrochemical flow technologies for a sustainable future | |
| Status | Started | |
| Energy Categories | Not Energy Related 70%; Other Power and Storage Technologies (Energy storage) 30%; |
|
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 50%; PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 50%; |
|
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Melanie Britton University of Birmingham |
|
| Award Type | Standard | |
| Funding Source | EPSRC | |
| Start Date | 01 September 2025 | |
| End Date | 01 September 2029 | |
| Duration | 48 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £1,230,609 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Unknown | |
| Region | West Midlands | |
| Programme | NC : Physical Sciences | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Melanie Britton , University of Birmingham |
| Other Investigator | Emma Kendrick , University of Birmingham |
|
| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | ||
| Abstract | Technologies based on electrochemical flow systems are emerging as promising more-sustainable solutions for the global challenges of climate change, materials availability and clean water supply. They offer opportunities to meet the goals of the UK’s “Net Zero” strategy, through development of improved energy storage and improved electrochemical recycling of mineral and water resources. Electrochemical flow technologies are underpinned by a common operational mechanism, where performance is simultaneously governed by electrochemistry and hydrodynamics (flow, diffusion and convection), and share common electrochemical processes, that establish internal concentration gradients which are coupled with mass transport. While there is increasing interest in developing electrochemical flow technologies, their advancement, and ultimate commercialisation, is inhibited by a lack of understanding of the fundamental processes controlling them, limiting their improvement, optimisation and ultimately, their commercialisation. In this project, we will develop advanced characterisation techniques, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to non-invasively, holistically and simultaneously observe and quantify the interplay between electrochemistry and flow for the first time. These characterisation techniques will enable direct and simultaneous identification and localisation of species and depletion/reaction zones, while mapping diffusion and flow velocities of electrolytes/electrodes, in multivalent metal ion flow batteries, redox flow batteries and flow-electrode capacitive deionisation. The proposed project will design, construct and optimise flow cells and establish a suite of imaging protocols to study electrochemical flow systems. The development of these cells and imaging protocols will be guided by a range of test systems, pioneered by researchers developing electrochemical flow technologies. Systems will be selected, initially, from amongst those studied by our project partners, but will extend to systems beyond these, which are being advanced by researchers in the wider community. This project will deliver transformative insight into the behaviour and optimisation of a range of electrochemical flow systems, leading to an acceleration of their development. Our initial focus will be on redox flow batteries, multivalent metal-ion flow batteries and flow-electrode capacitive deionisation. However, the goal of the proposal is to not only advance these initial systems/technologies, but to develop the characterisation tools required to advance all electrochemical flow technologies. Our methods will be applicable to a diverse range of electrochemical storage systems, as well as electrochemical recycling of metals and other critical elements/materials, organic electrosynthesis and flow synthesis. Working with our project partners, we will ensure the MRI technique developments are guided by the applications. Building on the network of electrochemical researchers established in this project, we will engage with the wider electrochemistry, energy storage and sustainability communities, disseminating technical and scientific knowledge, and ensuring these techniques become more widely employed and accessible beyond the NMR and MRI communities. Therefore, this project will enable the establishment of novel operando flow cells and imaging protocols to advance our understanding of all electrochemical flow systems, the acceleration of technological innovation of electrochemical flow technologies through greater understanding of the fundamental molecular processes underpinning these more-sustainable electrochemical applications for the future, the creation of a national network of researchers developing electrochemical flow technologies, accelerate the UK's progress towards New Zero. | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 29/10/25 | |
