Chemical Sustainability

My name is Eimear, and I am studying for a PhD under the supervision of Prof Ben Slater and Dr Yang Zu, implementing both computational and experimental techniques to improve the cyclability of potassium-sulfur batteries (KSBs). The field of batteries has enjoyed a resurgence of research efforts owing to the rising popularity of environmentally friendly electric vehicles. KSBs have been proposed as a more sustainable and more powerful alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The relative earth abundance of the components of KSBs are much higher than those of lithium-ion batteries, and their theoretical specific energy density is about ten times greater. However, the realisation of KSB application is hindered by a parasitic reaction known as the shuttle effect which reduces the lifespan of the battery significantly. The aim of my research is to impede this reaction to enhance the longevity of the battery’s performance. If we can improve the efficiency of this battery, then hopefully the electrification of the transport industry can expand and eventually one day, we will all be driving electric-powered vehicles. 

My name is Shuyi Zhang, I am studying for PhD at the Department of Chemistry, UCL. I study under the supervision of Prof Helen Hailes and Prof John Ward. My project is constituted by two parts. For the first part, I work on the Baylis-Hillman and Ene-reductase cascade reactions. As a useful synthetic transformation used in C-C bond formation, our aim in this project is to develop one-pot chemoenzymatic syntheses using the Baylis-Hillman (B-H) reaction, which is a useful synthetic transformation employed in C-C bond formation, in aqueous media as the first step and Ene-reductiases (ERs) in the second step.

For another part of my project, I’m trying to screen and explore enzymes and microbes to break down plastics. Almost all sectors of the UK and international economies rely on plastics for construction, agriculture, textiles and white goods, but at the end of life most plastic still ends up in landfill. What we are interested in is investigating the identification of new microbes or enzymes that can degrade polyurethanes or polyamides, which is contributed to sustainable and eco-friendly development.

My name is Ed, and I am studying for my PhD here at UCL Chemistry supervised by Professor Jawwad Darr. I am working on the green, scalable synthesis of next generation high power, high-rate lithium-ion battery anode materials. Particular focus is currently on the Continuous Hydrothermal Flow Synthesis of Wadsley-Roth structure Niobium based oxides, with an eye towards eventually testing the most promising Li-ion battery anode materials in multivalent hybrid supercapacitor devices. Wadsley-Roth crystallographic shear structure niobium oxides are of great interest for fast Li+ storage. This is due to their unique 3D multilane open tunnel structures with an abundance of Li insertion sites that offer facile Li+ diffusion paths. This, coupled with a moderate lithiation potential enables high theoretical/practical capacities, long-term cyclability, and high safety. The ultimate aim being to move towards a greener future based on renewable energy as opposed to fossil fuels such as for use in portable electronics, electric transportation and solar/wind energy storage.

I am Stefanos Agrotis and I am a PhD student in the department of Chemistry at UCL. I work under the supervision of Prof Daren J. Caruana (UCL), who has developed a single-step material synthesis method, using atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), suitable for patterning of metals and other inorganic materials and Dr Albertus Denny Handoko (IMRE, A Star, Singapore) who is an expert in electrocatalytic assessment of materials. One of the most important challenge todays is devising sufficient energy production while preserving the environment. Currently, 80% of global energy demand comes from fossil fuels, leading to extremely high global CO2 emissions (~32 billion tonnes per year). One of the promising ways to address this issue is to capture the CO2 from point sources for carbon utilization (CCU). CCU offers the possibility of carbon recycling, where CO2 is converted into fuel or chemical precursor moieties that can be fed back into production cycle, thus creating a closed-loop anthropogenic Carbon Cycle. Electrocatalytic conversion is probably one of the most versatile catalysis approaches to convert CO2 with clear pathway into industrial-scale production. Unlike thermal catalysis, it can be operated on-demand, and can be supplied with flexible energy sources, including renewables that have become increasingly more affordable and accessible. The aim of my research is to optimise and understand the plasma mediated process by assessing the electrocatalytic activity of various transition metals deposited by this method.  I will then explore whether I can synthesise new active metal catalyst compositions, without the need of thermal treatments and using a power output of 50 W or less.

My name is Charlie Nason and the focus of my PhD here at UCL within Dr Yang Xu’s research group, is next-generation materials for monovalent ion batteries. With the world rapidly switching to greener sources of energy, such as wind and solar power, there is an emerging critical problem. The current battery materials are woefully ill-suited for such a paradigm shift. Only with the development of electrode materials that are vastly cheaper, stabler, sustainable and with higher capacity can we ensure full divergence from fossil fuels. Excellent candidates for many of these requirements are potassium and sodium ion batteries, containing electrodes that exclude many of the critically limited elements found in today’s commercialized batteries. The aim of my current research is to investigate under-utilized layered titanium-niobate oxides as materials for potassium ion anodes, due to their favorable structure and low potential redox pairs. As much of the current research is focused on carbon-based anodes, there is a significant research gap that we aim to address.

My name is Charles, and I am a PhD student under the supervision of Prof Robert Palgrave (UCL) and Dr Xizu Wang (A*STAR). My project involves synthesizing lead-free halide perovskite films using thermal evaporation methods. A transition to renewable energy is more than ever important today due to atmospheric CO2 concentration rising to record levels. With sun being a ubiquitous energy source, solar energy is regarded as one of the most promising renewable energy sources. However, the current photovoltaics market is dominated by silicon wafer-based solar cells, and these are known for its high manufacturing costs. Solar cells established from lead-based halide perovskites have reached a record power conversion efficiency of 25.7% and have the potential to take over silicon wafer-based technology due to its simple and inexpensive synthesis. Despite the area of halide perovskites experiencing a rapid growth within the scientific community owing to the material’s attractive optoelectronic properties and low-cost synthesis, current high-performing halide perovskite solar cells contain lead and are not stable in ambient conditions. Moreover, solution processing methods that allow perovskite synthesis in standard laboratory environments often require the use of toxic solvents. Research efforts directed at lead-free halide perovskite films deposited via thermal evaporation method, which doesn’t require any use of solvents, might just be the way to produce powerful yet inexpensive solar cells that are both stable and safe to use.