Hierarchically porous and nanostructured materials can transform a number of emerging applications across energy and the environment including for energy storage/conversion (batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells), gas sequestration and water filtration.
However, each of these disruptive technologies require materials with specific properties, made from abundant materials using processes that scale. While next-generation nanomaterials or chemical templating show huge promise in this area, methods for their reliable production that are truly scalable are rare. Our recent work presented a new method for forming 2D nanosheets in liquids with several unique characteristics [1-3]. In our method, the 2D materials are all monolayers (most other methods create less desirable and often damaged multilayers), the process is truly scalable, the sheets are undamaged and also, uniquely the solubilised nanosheets are negatively charged. The charge can be used for assembly novel 3-D structures or can be used to plate or coat or infiltrate existing high surface area nanomaterials (e.g. made from carbonisation of bio-char), adding functionality.
In the proposed project key active materials will be created using divergent strategies, but with a common goal. First, the carbonisation of natural products, waste or designed macroscale precursors will be undertaken to create bulk materials with naturally-tuned mico, meso and nanostructures and high-activity sites post carbonisation. By carefully studying (and tuning) structure of precursors before and then after they are activated, using techniques including atomic force microscopy, x-ray tomography, small-angle x-ray scattering, electron microscopy and spectroscopic techniques, we will develop a much deeper understanding of their structure-function relationships, allowing us to work to produce novel and high performance materials at scale. Secondly, advanced nanomaterials created through spontaneous dissolution (including graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, or phosphorene nanoribbons) will be self-assembled via functionalisation chemistry to create engineered hierarchical structures synthetically. These materials will be characterised as above and successful materials scaled up.
This project will build on a successful and growing collaboration between Physics & Astronomy, the LCN and the Electrochemical Innovation Lab in Chemical Engineering [1-4]. Materials manufacture will be undertaken in P&A, utilising the new cross-faculty funded graphitisation furnace (currently being installed) and the nanomaterial creation lab. They will be characterised in the LCN utilising a range of state-of-the-art nanoscale analysis techniques (AFM, TEM, BET etc.) and then tested in small-scale and demonstrator-scale electrochemical cells in the EIL - the EIL facilities and our existing collaboration will allow us to target a number of application areas. This use-focused approach will allow us to simultaneously move new 2D materials into devices and allow the advanced multiscale understanding of new advanced engineering materials.
The student undertaking this project will develop multidisciplinary skills in synthesis, device fabrication, electrochemistry and advanced characterisation for energy storage, whilst developing strong links with industry and academia, where we look to protect and exploit the IP we create.