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Projects: Summary of Projects by Region Projects in Region Scotland involving University of Strathclyde : EP/W018950/1
Reference Number	EP/W018950/1
Title	Sustainable microwave manufacturing of functional inorganic materials (SuMMa)
Status	Started
Energy Categories	Energy Efficiency(Transport) 5%; Not Energy Related 90%; Other Power and Storage Technologies(Energy storage) 5%;
Research Types	Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 10%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 90%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Dr S Corr Chemistry University of Glasgow
	Dr G Dimitrakis Faculty of Engineering University of Nottingham
Award Type	Standard
Funding Source	EPSRC
Start Date	01 June 2022
End Date	31 March 2026
Duration	46 months
Total Grant Value	£1,683,171
Industrial Sectors	Manufacturing
Region	Scotland; East Midlands
Programme	Manufacturing : Manufacturing
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Dr S Corr , Chemistry, University of Glasgow Dr G Dimitrakis , Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham
	Other Investigator	Dr E R Binner , Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Dr J Robinson , Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham Dr KLS Campbell , Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London Professor A Porch , Engineering, Cardiff University Dr J Lees , Engineering, Cardiff University Dr DR Slocombe , Engineering, Cardiff University Professor J Cordiner , Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield Dr R Boston , Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield Professor D Coca , Automatic Control and Systems Engineering, University of Sheffield Dr S Brown , Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield Dr R Elder , Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield Dr IM Reaney , Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield Dr J Howse , Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield Dr E Cussen , Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde Dr SV Patwardhan , Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Strathclyde
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , University of Nottingham Project Contact , University of Warwick Project Contact , Centre for Process Innovation - CPI Project Contact , Advanced Microwave Technologies Ltd Project Contact , Microwave Technologies Cousulting Project Contact , Johnson Matthey plc Project Contact , Britishvolt Project Contact , STFC - Laboratories Project Contact , Oaklands College
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Objectives
Abstract	Delivery of bespoke, tailored functional materials for specific applications often requires multistep and/or custom manufacturing processes which may not always be transferable. This programme of research brings together experts fromacross the UK with the goal of designing, developing and deploying sustainable microwave manufacturing processes that deliver bespoke inorganic functional materials not accessible at scale by current manufacturing methods. Microwaveprocessing affords unique control and heating characteristics which, when coupled with judicious reactant choice, can shorten reaction times (from days to minutes), avoid unwanted side-reactions which can lead to unwanted additionalproducts and improve short-range crystallinity by alleviating defect formation. These benefits represent considerable advantanges over traditional methods, where processing can lead to defects which plague performance.Synthesis of state-of-the-art, tailored functional materials currently requires additional resource demands, be they multistep processes or more energy-intensive treatments. Solving the production of such materials represents a key challenge in delivering materials with demanding performance criteria, e.g. nanostructured cathodes for high power density applications or textured electrodes for long cycle life. The unique properties of microwaves offer a greener, faster, and more targeted manufacturing route to achieving high value functional materials. Here, we target the scaled-up (kg/day) synthesis of nanostructured and faceted cathode particles, with the key delivery of (i) a microwave flow reactor producing high quality Li-ion battery cathode materials with primary particle morphologies and performances not accessible by traditional synthetic routes and (ii) a sustainable route to the reduction of manufacturing resource use, to just the amount required, through delivery of resource efficiency, multi-level optimization and circular economy principles. Realising this sustainable microwave manufacturing route to high value energy storage cathodes of immediate interest for next-generation electric vehicle applications has the opportunity to contribute in a significant way to a UK economic chemical industry opportunity worth a potential £2.7B per year
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Added to Database	02/03/22