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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/G060940/1
Title Nanostructured Functional Materials for Energy Efficient Refrigeration, Energy Harvesting and Production of Hydrogen from Water.
Status Completed
Energy Categories Energy Efficiency(Residential and commercial) 10%;
Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Solar heating and cooling (including daylighting)) 25%;
Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics) 25%;
Renewable Energy Sources(Other Renewables) 5%;
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen production) 25%;
Energy Efficiency(Industry) 10%;
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 Professor N (Neil ) Alford
No email address given
Materials
Imperial College London
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 October 2009
End Date 31 July 2015
Duration 70 months
Total Grant Value £3,868,581
Industrial Sectors Electronics; Energy
Region London
Programme Energy Research Capacity, Physical Sciences
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor N (Neil ) Alford , Materials, Imperial College London (99.997%)
  Other Investigator Professor N Harrison , Chemistry, Imperial College London (0.001%)
Dr KG Sandeman , Department of Physics (the Blackett Laboratory), Imperial College London (0.001%)
Professor LF Cohen , Department of Physics (the Blackett Laboratory), Imperial College London (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , Camfridge Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , University of Cambridge (0.000%)
Project Contact , National Physical Laboratory (NPL) (0.000%)
Project Contact , STFC Daresbury Laboratory (0.000%)
Project Contact , IFW Dresden, Germany (0.000%)
Project Contact , Netzsch Instruments (0.000%)
Project Contact , Ericsson, Sweden (0.000%)
Project Contact , University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia (0.000%)
Project Contact , Ames Laboratory, USA (0.000%)
Project Contact , TWI Technology Centre (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract This program is about using nanostructured materials to address key areas in energy related applications. This proposal will deliver world class materials science through ambitious thin and thick film development and analysis and the proposal targets the EPSRC strategic areas "Energy" and "Nanoscience through nanoengineering." The programme grant will provide the opportunity to integrate three well established research areas that currently operate independently of each other and will establish a new consortium of activities. Collectively they offer the essential ingredients to move this particular field forward. The planned program of work is timely because of the convergence of modelling capability, precision multilayer oxide growth expertise and nanofabrication facilities.The overall vision for the Programme Grant is focussed on Energy. Within the Programme we aim to find means of reducing energy consumption for example by using electro and magnetocaloric means of cooling; generating energy by use of nanoscale rectifying antennas and finally storing energy by photocatalytic splitting of hydrogen from water.Our program is divided into two themed areas:1) Nanostructured oxides for Energy Efficient Refrigeration with 2 project areasElectrocaloricsMagnetocalorics2) Nanostructured oxides for energy production and storage with 2 project areasSolar HarvestingPhotocatalysisThis research will enable :- The development of new materials, new material architectures and new device concepts for energy refrigeration and energy harvesting. The synergy across a range of programs particularly the underpinning activities of materials theory, modelling and characterisation will move these important fields closer to application.- The research will also enable a new forum to be established, with representation from UK and European scientists and industrialists so that broad discussions can be held to enable moving these fields forward. We place a significantemphasis on training, outreach and knowledge transfer.The research challenges that need to be addressed are:- Designing physical systems that are close to an instability so that small external perturbations from magnetic or electric fields, optical or thermal excitation will tip the system into a new ground state- Optimising control over (strain, defects, doping inhomogeneity, disorder) and first layer effects in thin film oxides (with thicknesses of the order of 10nm or less) so that we candevelop the capability to tune the band gap of the oxide using directed modelling and targeted growth control
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 09/09/09