EPSRC Network for Engineering Porous Materials at Multiple Scales (EPoMM)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
The research area of porous materials is extremely diverse, including inorganic materials, organic polymers, synthetic frameworks, biological tissues and composite systems. The variety of applications is equally wide ranging, including renewable energy, separation processes, carbon capture, catalysis, water purification, electronic materials and medicine. This requires combined expertise across multiple science and engineering disciplines, and access to specialist characterisation facilities to study both pore sizes and phenomena that can span multiple scales. A single institution cannot cover the full range of expertise, facilities and applications and a combined effort is therefore required. The EPSRC Network in Engineering Porous Materials at Multiple Scales (EPoMM) therefore aims to foster multiscale and applications- led collaboration between scientists and engineers that spans the entire engineering and physical sciences portfolio. These collaborations will inspire new research directions and new applications to achieve globally significant outcomes with academic, commercial and societal benefits.
The vision of the ESPRC Network for Engineering Porous Materials at Multiple Scales (EPoMM) is to make the UK an internationally recognised beacon for multiscale porous materials research, where new collaborations are formed, new research directions are identified, expert advice can be sought, and innovations are commercialised.
The vision of the ESPRC Network for Engineering Porous Materials at Multiple Scales (EPoMM) is to make the UK an internationally recognised beacon for multiscale porous materials research, where new collaborations are formed, new research directions are identified, expert advice can be sought, and innovations are commercialised.
| Description | Discussion on freeze casting with international company on filtration. |
| Organisation | Vesuvius UK Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Following a workshop on porous materials led be the EPoMM EPSRC Network, an international company visited Bath to discuss the potential of using directional freezing (a key part of the ProSPECT project) for the formation of filtration systems. The involved laboratoy tours to see the process, and discussions on potential routes to scale up the freezing process and the current landscape in terms of intellectual property. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We are at an early stage and have made a plan for initial sample exchange and discussions on existing patents in this area. |
| Impact | Initial plan for collaboration and search of current intellectual property in this area. No formal agreement yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | 1st?Conference on Engineering Porous Materials at Multiple Scales (EPoMM) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The EPoMM conference took place 18-19 September 2024 at the University of Bath, bringing together over 70 researchers from around the world. They presented their innovative work in the field of porous materials with over 50 oral and poster presentations. Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the EPoMM network aspires to position the UK as a global leader in multiscale porous materials research - and to understand these materials across their scales of use, study, and porosity. Presentations not only explored the intricacies of pore dimensions but also delved into the mass production of these materials and their evolution and usage over time-some timescales spanning thousands of years. In addition to inspiring talks from early-career researchers and esteemed academic keynote speakers, there were representatives from major organisations such as Johnson Matthey and Nuclear Waste Services. Earlier stage commercial innovators also spoke, with novel spin-outs such as Ensilitech discussing their pathways to commercialisation-connecting cutting-edge research with real-world impact.The conference also highlighted an array of advanced characterisation methods, emphasising the strong relationship between material properties and their porosity. We also celebrated the achievements of our early-career researchers, awarding prizes for outstanding oral and poster presentations, recognising the next generation of innovators in this exciting field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/bath-hosts-inaugural-conference-on-engineering-porous-materials... |
| Description | BlueSky account for EPoMM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dissemination of activities by EPoMM |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://bsky.app/profile/epomm.bsky.social |
| Description | EPoMM website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Setting up website for EPoMM, including newsletters, workshops, annual conferences, and travel grants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://epomm.co.uk |
| Description | Setting up Twitter for EPoMM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Settting up X social media presence for dissemination of activity related to EPSRC Network for Engineering Porous Materials at Multiple Scales (EPoMM). Now over 300 members. In addition to network activities, also highlight and repost other research/engagement related to porous materials; these include publications, PhD and other research positions, patents. @EPoMM_UK https://twitter.com/EPoMM_UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/EPoMM_UK |
| Description | Workshop 1 : Porous Materials in Energy Storage and Generation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Online workshop on porous materials for energy, where the topic was selectd by EPoMM members and steering board. We aimed bring together research communities that work across different length scales who have not traditionally interacted through existing fora to generate new ideas in the use of porous materials for energy. The workshop objectives were to: i. identify research challenges, barriers and opportunities that are relevant to the use of porous media for energy applications (energy generation, storage). ii. outline basic research challenges (low TRL research), informed by the needs of stakeholders. iii. identify existing (well developed) and new/emerging areas where porous materials can contribute to the energy sector. iv. Identify strengths/weakness is existing research. v. Provide an opportunity for networking. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.bath.ac.uk/projects/epsrc-network-for-engineering-porous-materials-at-multiple-scales-ep... |
| Description | Workshop 2 : Interface between Academia & Industry in Porous Materials |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Workshop 2 : Interface between Academia & Industry in Porous Materials Thursday 5 December 2024 The workshop included over 10 industry/commerical attendees to discuss real challnges with academics in terms of working with industry, future technical direction and methods of collaboration. The workshop objectives were to: 1. Identify emerging industrial areas of interest in porous materials and gaps in fundamental understanding for academic research to address. 2. Identify disconnects and opportunities between academia and industry in the field of porous materials. 3. Consider the balance between exploratory academic research and industry-led impact in the development of porous materials . 4. Identify and evaluate established and novel mechanisms for academia and industry to work together. 5. Considerations when bringing a porous materials based technology to market. 6. Provide an opportunity for networking and formation of academic/industrial partnerships in porous materials research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://epomm.co.uk/interface-between-academia-and-industry-in-porous-materials/ |