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Advanced Functional Materials Spectroscopy: Lab-based X-ray Adsorption

Reference Number
EP/V029053/1
Title
Advanced Functional Materials Spectroscopy: Lab-based X-ray Adsorption
Status
Completed
Energy Categories
Not Energy Related
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Energy storage)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Fuel Cells)
Research Types
Equipment
Science and Technology Fields
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation
Not Cross-cutting
Principal Investigator
Dr SK Beaumont
Chemistry
Durham University
Award Type
Standard
Funding Source
EPSRC
Start Date
01 August 2021
End Date
11 April 2025
Duration
44 months
Total Grant Value
£690,857
Industrial Sectors
Materials sciences
Region
North East
Programme
NC : Physical Sciences
Investigators
Principal Investigator
Dr SK Beaumont, Chemistry, Durham University
Other Investigator
Professor CD Bain, Vice Chancellor's Office, Durham University
Professor K Coleman, Chemistry, Durham University
Dr PW Dyer, Chemistry, Durham University
Dr IR Evans, Chemistry, Durham University
Professor JSO Evans, Chemistry, Durham University
Dr AJ Gallant, Engineering, Durham University
Dr C Groves, Engineering, Durham University
Professor PD Hatton, Physics, Durham University
Dr KE Johnston, Chemistry, Durham University
Professor T Lancaster, Physics, Durham University
Dr RA Taylor, Chemistry, Durham University
Industrial Collaborator
Project Contact, Dummy Organisation
Project Contact, easyXAFS
Project Contact, Hiden Analytical Ltd
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract
Technology based on fundamental research into functional materials has transformed the world in which live, and it will continue to do so. Energy materials are critical components in fuel cells and batteries (the rapidly growing global market for Li-ion batteries alone is anticipated to be worth £84 bn by 2025). New, cleaner, more efficient catalysts are essential for greening existing processes as well as new ones for non-fossil-fuel based routes to essential chemicals (the catalyst market is worth around £19.5 bn/yr and growing at 4.5% pa). The equipment proposed will increase productivity in strategic UK research areas such as Energy Storage and Catalysis that require understanding of these materials' chemical and structural properties.X-ray absorption spectroscopy is a technique used to measure the oxidation state (chemical information) and local co-ordination environment (structural information) properties of a material. X-ray techniques are especially valuable in probing the working state of materials because they can penetrate deep into working samples/devices.This technique has typically been performed at synchrotron x-ray sources, such as Diamond Light Source in the UK. Recent advances in the hardware available (x-ray sources, optics and detectors) have been exploited to develop laboratory x-ray absorption spectrometers (including one that is commercially available), which now have sufficient x-ray power to enable many experiments to be performed in the laboratory. Such spectrometers are ideal for experiments that do not need high time or spatial resolution (available only at heavily oversubscribed synchrotron sources), especially operando measurements on a working battery or catalyst, where the time is determined by the process and not the x-ray source. Such equipment, while available in Germany or the USA, isn't currently available in the UK and would complement the facilities already available at Diamond. Through this project to procure, commission and operate a laboratory-source x-ray absorption spectrometer (and complementary equipment), we will meet a key need of the UK functional materials research community for wider availability of XAS to support research in strategic areas.The new facility will be housed in the Chemistry Department at Durham University, which has a strong track-record in x-ray science and interactions with industry. The EasyXAFS300 would complement other x-ray facilities in Durham, as well as recent investments in catalysis (£1.1m DU Integrated Chemical Reaction Facility) and materials (£0.75m DU COAST Nanolab). The investigator team span a wide range of disciplines (e.g. solid state chemistry, batteries, catalysis, condensed matter physics, nano-scale engineering) and so will act as advocates and representatives within diverse UK science communities - as demonstrated by the range of letters of support provided. Both Durham and external users in other universities and companieshave already indicated interest in using the instrument for a wide range of applications - some examples include:i) Metal nanoparticle catalysts for biomass conversion.ii) Zeolite catalysts for methane activation.iii) Single atom / cluster catalysts for fine chemicals production.iv) C-H bond activation in Mn(I) catalysts.v) Cs co-ordination environment in supported commercial catalysts.vi) Ni based catalysts for dry and steam reforming.vii) Characterisation of carbide, nitride and carbonitride transition metal catalysts.viii) Structure and oxidation state of ceria catalysts for environmental applicationsix) Oxide ion conductors in solid oxide fuel cells.x) Electrode materials for Na-ion batteries.xi) Skyrmion chiral magnets for next generation data storage media.xii) 3D-Graphene foams (synthesized with metal salts) for filtration and pollution control.xiii) Fe, Mn and Cu in stain removal and malodour control.xiv) PtCu nanowires in gas sensing arrays.
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Added to Database
12/11/21