Metal Atoms on Surfaces & Interfaces (MASI) for Sustainable Future
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Chemistry
Abstract
What is MASI?
We believe that there is a strong link between the looming environmental crisis and the way we use chemical elements. In MASI, a multidisciplinary team of scientists from four UK universities (Nottingham, Cardiff, Cambridge, Birmingham), with 12 industrial and academic partners, is set to revolutionise the ways we use metals in a broad range of technologies, and to break our dependence on critically endangered elements. Simultaneously, MASI will make advances in: the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and its valorisation into useful chemicals; the production of 'green' ammonia (NH3) as an alternative zero-emission fuel and a new vector for hydrogen storage; and the provision of more sustainable fuel cells and electrolyser technologies.
At the core of MASI is the fundamental science of metal nanoclusters (MNC), which goes beyond the traditional realm of nanoparticles towards the nanometre and sub-nanometre domain including single metal atoms (SMA). The overall goal of the MASI project is two-fold: (i) to provide a solution for a sustainable use of scarce metals of technological importance (e.g. Pt, Au, Pd), by maximising utilisation of every atom; and (ii) to unlock new properties that emerge in metals only at the atomic scale, allowing for the substitution of critical metals with abundant ones (e.g. Pt with Ni), and provide a platform for the next generation of materials for energy, catalysis and electronics applications.
How does it work?
We have recently developed the theoretical framework and instrumentation necessary to break bulk metals directly to metal atoms or nanoclusters, with their size, shape and composition precisely controlled. The atomic-scale control of nanocluster fabrication will open the door for programming their chemistry. For example, the electronic, catalytic or electrochemical properties of abundant metals, such as Ni and Co, may imitate endangered metals (Pt or Ru) at the nm and sub-nm scale, or by carefully controlled dispersion of the endangered elements with abundant ones in an alloy nanocluster.
Our method allows direct deposition of metal atoms or nanoclusters onto solids (e.g. glass, polymer film, paper etc.), powders (e.g. silica, alumina, carbon etc.) and non-volatile liquids (e.g. oils, ionic liquids) in vacuum with no chemicals, solvents or surfactants and an accurately controlled metal loading. The directness of the MASI approach avoids generating chemical waste and enables a high 'atom economy', surpassing any wet chemistry methods. Moreover, surfaces of our metal nanoclusters are clean and highly active; additionally, being stabilised by interactions with the support material, they can be readily applied wherever electronic, optical or catalytic properties of metals are required.
What is unique about these materials and our technology?
MASI will offer greener, more sustainable methods of fabrication of metal nanoclusters, without solvents or chemicals, with the maximised active surface area ensuring efficient use of each metal atom.
'Naked', highly active metal surfaces are ready for reactions with molecules, activated by heat, light or electric potential, while tuneable interactions with support materials provide durability and reusability of metals in reactions. In particular, MASI materials will be suitable for the activation of hard-to-crack molecules (e.g. N2, H2 and CO2) in reactions that constitute the backbone of the chemical industry, such as the Haber-Bosch process. Similarly, highly dispersed metals and their intimate contact with the support material, will lead to high capacity for energy storage/conversion required in energy materials and fuel cells technologies. Importantly, MASI nanocluster fabrication technology is fully scalable to kilograms and tons of material, making it ideal for uptake in industrial schemes, potentially leading to a green industrial revolution.
We believe that there is a strong link between the looming environmental crisis and the way we use chemical elements. In MASI, a multidisciplinary team of scientists from four UK universities (Nottingham, Cardiff, Cambridge, Birmingham), with 12 industrial and academic partners, is set to revolutionise the ways we use metals in a broad range of technologies, and to break our dependence on critically endangered elements. Simultaneously, MASI will make advances in: the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and its valorisation into useful chemicals; the production of 'green' ammonia (NH3) as an alternative zero-emission fuel and a new vector for hydrogen storage; and the provision of more sustainable fuel cells and electrolyser technologies.
At the core of MASI is the fundamental science of metal nanoclusters (MNC), which goes beyond the traditional realm of nanoparticles towards the nanometre and sub-nanometre domain including single metal atoms (SMA). The overall goal of the MASI project is two-fold: (i) to provide a solution for a sustainable use of scarce metals of technological importance (e.g. Pt, Au, Pd), by maximising utilisation of every atom; and (ii) to unlock new properties that emerge in metals only at the atomic scale, allowing for the substitution of critical metals with abundant ones (e.g. Pt with Ni), and provide a platform for the next generation of materials for energy, catalysis and electronics applications.
How does it work?
We have recently developed the theoretical framework and instrumentation necessary to break bulk metals directly to metal atoms or nanoclusters, with their size, shape and composition precisely controlled. The atomic-scale control of nanocluster fabrication will open the door for programming their chemistry. For example, the electronic, catalytic or electrochemical properties of abundant metals, such as Ni and Co, may imitate endangered metals (Pt or Ru) at the nm and sub-nm scale, or by carefully controlled dispersion of the endangered elements with abundant ones in an alloy nanocluster.
Our method allows direct deposition of metal atoms or nanoclusters onto solids (e.g. glass, polymer film, paper etc.), powders (e.g. silica, alumina, carbon etc.) and non-volatile liquids (e.g. oils, ionic liquids) in vacuum with no chemicals, solvents or surfactants and an accurately controlled metal loading. The directness of the MASI approach avoids generating chemical waste and enables a high 'atom economy', surpassing any wet chemistry methods. Moreover, surfaces of our metal nanoclusters are clean and highly active; additionally, being stabilised by interactions with the support material, they can be readily applied wherever electronic, optical or catalytic properties of metals are required.
What is unique about these materials and our technology?
MASI will offer greener, more sustainable methods of fabrication of metal nanoclusters, without solvents or chemicals, with the maximised active surface area ensuring efficient use of each metal atom.
'Naked', highly active metal surfaces are ready for reactions with molecules, activated by heat, light or electric potential, while tuneable interactions with support materials provide durability and reusability of metals in reactions. In particular, MASI materials will be suitable for the activation of hard-to-crack molecules (e.g. N2, H2 and CO2) in reactions that constitute the backbone of the chemical industry, such as the Haber-Bosch process. Similarly, highly dispersed metals and their intimate contact with the support material, will lead to high capacity for energy storage/conversion required in energy materials and fuel cells technologies. Importantly, MASI nanocluster fabrication technology is fully scalable to kilograms and tons of material, making it ideal for uptake in industrial schemes, potentially leading to a green industrial revolution.
Planned Impact
People. MASI will deliver high quality research training and career development for young scientists, not only for the PDRAs directly employed by the grant but also for PhD students associated with the project (seven PhD studentships will be internally funded by the four institutions). The researchers will be exposed to an incredibly interdisciplinary environment via the combination of experimental chemistry, materials engineering, analytical sciences and theoretical modelling within the single project, making use of the bespoke training programmes in science and technology of nanomaterials offered by nmRC at Nottingham (www.nottingham.ac.uk/nmrc). Training in the industrial context will be provided by our partner organisations, such as Siemens' 'green' ammonia plant at Harwell Campus.
Academia. As properties of metals change abruptly in sub-nm range, the physics and chemistry of SMA/MNC have many scientific surprises. Their hybrids with low-dimensional materials (e.g. graphene, carbon nitride, nanotubes) are expected to exhibit unique functional properties inaccessible in any traditional materials, creating a new wave of research across a range of disciplines stimulated by MASI. Our results will be published in high-calibre international peer-reviewed journals, and reported at key materials science, analytical science, catalysis, and chemical engineering conferences. This will disseminate new knowledge of the science of nanoclusters to the wide multidisciplinary audience on methods of their preparation and characterisation, new types of chemical reactions facilitated by these materials and functional devices enabled by MASI. Moreover, we expect the nanocluster fabrication system at Nottingham to become a new national facility open to all HEIs in the UK and beyond.
Industry. We will work closely with our industry partners (see letters of support) to identify opportunities to apply SMA/MNC that will emerge from this project in the development of the next generation of materials for energy, catalysis and electronic applications. The opportunity to reduce the amount of precious metals used in a range of technological processes will reduce both the financial and environmental costs to the UK. MASI innovations will be fed directly into a range of chemistry-using industries in the UK (£15.2bn Value Added p.a. and >150k UK jobs) and overseas, including heterogenous catalysis manufacture, energy conversion and storage materials, conversion of petrochemicals and ammonia synthesis, harnessing the untapped potential of metal nanoclusters for the first time. We have strong support from chemical industry partners, including Johnson Matthey and Siemens, who are primarily interested in new heterogenous catalyst systems emerging from MASI. In addition, the TSMC Ltd., the world's leading semiconductor foundry company, and Versarion Plc. are keen to exploit MASI methodology for 2D materials production. Working in partnership with the leading magnetron sputtering systems manufacturer AJA International Ltd. we will realise our ambitious goal to upscale metal nanocluster fabrication from the preparative laboratory scale to the industrial pilot scale within the lifetime of MASI.
Society. The limited resource and increasing scarcity of many metals of technological importance, such as Pt, Pd, Au, are some of the greatest and immediate threats to future progress of our society that will be addressed by MASI. The policy institutes of the four universities will facilitate social engagement and awareness-raising campaigns for MASI. Led by the University of Nottingham's recently established Global Policy Institute, we will launch a campaign on achieving a sustainable zero-emission society. We will use the output from MASI as the core for the campaign to explain how fundamentally changing the environmental and sustainability credentials of science and technology has a cascading impact on the daily lives of citizens and businesses.
Academia. As properties of metals change abruptly in sub-nm range, the physics and chemistry of SMA/MNC have many scientific surprises. Their hybrids with low-dimensional materials (e.g. graphene, carbon nitride, nanotubes) are expected to exhibit unique functional properties inaccessible in any traditional materials, creating a new wave of research across a range of disciplines stimulated by MASI. Our results will be published in high-calibre international peer-reviewed journals, and reported at key materials science, analytical science, catalysis, and chemical engineering conferences. This will disseminate new knowledge of the science of nanoclusters to the wide multidisciplinary audience on methods of their preparation and characterisation, new types of chemical reactions facilitated by these materials and functional devices enabled by MASI. Moreover, we expect the nanocluster fabrication system at Nottingham to become a new national facility open to all HEIs in the UK and beyond.
Industry. We will work closely with our industry partners (see letters of support) to identify opportunities to apply SMA/MNC that will emerge from this project in the development of the next generation of materials for energy, catalysis and electronic applications. The opportunity to reduce the amount of precious metals used in a range of technological processes will reduce both the financial and environmental costs to the UK. MASI innovations will be fed directly into a range of chemistry-using industries in the UK (£15.2bn Value Added p.a. and >150k UK jobs) and overseas, including heterogenous catalysis manufacture, energy conversion and storage materials, conversion of petrochemicals and ammonia synthesis, harnessing the untapped potential of metal nanoclusters for the first time. We have strong support from chemical industry partners, including Johnson Matthey and Siemens, who are primarily interested in new heterogenous catalyst systems emerging from MASI. In addition, the TSMC Ltd., the world's leading semiconductor foundry company, and Versarion Plc. are keen to exploit MASI methodology for 2D materials production. Working in partnership with the leading magnetron sputtering systems manufacturer AJA International Ltd. we will realise our ambitious goal to upscale metal nanocluster fabrication from the preparative laboratory scale to the industrial pilot scale within the lifetime of MASI.
Society. The limited resource and increasing scarcity of many metals of technological importance, such as Pt, Pd, Au, are some of the greatest and immediate threats to future progress of our society that will be addressed by MASI. The policy institutes of the four universities will facilitate social engagement and awareness-raising campaigns for MASI. Led by the University of Nottingham's recently established Global Policy Institute, we will launch a campaign on achieving a sustainable zero-emission society. We will use the output from MASI as the core for the campaign to explain how fundamentally changing the environmental and sustainability credentials of science and technology has a cascading impact on the daily lives of citizens and businesses.
Organisations
Publications
Akhavan S
(2023)
Graphene-black phosphorus printed photodetectors
in 2D Materials
Akhavan S
(2024)
Graphene-Perovskite Fibre Photodetectors.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Asgari M
(2022)
Terahertz photodetection in scalable single-layer-graphene and hexagonal boron nitride heterostructures
in Applied Physics Letters
Asgari M
(2021)
Chip-Scalable, Room-Temperature, Zero-Bias, Graphene-Based Terahertz Detectors with Nanosecond Response Time.
in ACS nano
Astle MA
(2022)
Defect Etching in Carbon Nanotube Walls for Porous Carbon Nanoreactors: Implications for CO2 Sorption and the Hydrosilylation of Phenylacetylene.
in ACS applied nano materials
Bowker M
(2022)
The Critical Role of ßPdZn Alloy in Pd/ZnO Catalysts for the Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol.
in ACS catalysis
Calandrini E
(2023)
Near- and Far-Field Observation of Phonon Polaritons in Wafer-Scale Multilayer Hexagonal Boron Nitride Prepared by Chemical Vapor Deposition.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Description | We have gained a deep understanding of how metal nanoclusters form on surfaces at the atomic level. This has allowed us to control the size and distribution of metal structures on different supports. The resulting materials have exceptional properties in catalysis, enabling the reduction of precious metals usage while enhancing critical chemical reactions such as converting CO2 into liquid fuels, synthesizing ammonia, and producing H2. We have demonstrated that the nature of the surface plays a crucial role in the growth of metal nanoclusters, and defines their functional properties, including bonding and interactions with molecules during the reaction. As part of a wider investigation, we have developed methods of surface characterization and nanocluster analysis using various spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. This has contributed significantly to the general physical sciences. |
Exploitation Route | The outcomes of this project will be used by the global academic community, including research groups specialising in nanomaterials synthesis and characterisation, and heterogenous catalysis. We expect that MASI materials methods will be taken up by industry, such as the production of coating materials, electrolysers for water splitting and CO2 utilisation sector. |
Sectors | Chemicals Energy |
URL | http://www.masi.ac.uk |
Description | Materials produced in MASI project are currently tested in a commercial electrolyser for hydrogen production by water splitting. |
Title | Research data supporting "Charge-carrier complexes in monolayer semiconductors" |
Description | The data includes inputs and outputs used for calculating the binding energies of charge-carrier complexes in the presence of out-of-plane magnetic filed and uniform electric field in monolayer semiconductors. Part of the data is used for deriving the binding energy of quintons in monolayer semiconductors. Also, the data for examining the accuracy of Rytova-Keldysh interaction is included. README.txt file provides more information about each class of data. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/340396 |
Title | ATOMICALLY DISPERSED METAL CATALYST |
Description | A method for preparing an atomically dispersed metal catalyst, comprising: depositing atomically dispersed metal onto a support by magnetron sputtering to directly form a catalyst comprising metal particles, with mean diameter up to 1 nm, dispersed on the surface of the support, wherein the support is water insoluble. |
IP Reference | WO2023007192 |
Protection | Patent / Patent application |
Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | This invention relates to a novel solvent-free method of producing single atoms catalyst on surfaces at scale. This is crucial process for chemical industry as single atoms catalysts have demonstrated high activity and selectivity in many catalytic reactions. This patent generated the industrial interested, for example, Nottingham-based company that specializes in manufacturing water electrolysers (Aqsorption). We discovered unusual type of surface defects (nano-grooves and ridges) naturally formed on metal waste swarf from the UK aerospace industry. I have effectively utilised these surfaces defects to guide Pt and Co atoms to yield highly efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen production from water. The company will contribute £70k towards a PhD studentship for this project. Another industrial interested, Teer Coating Ltd. is working in collaboration to scale this process of making single atom catalysts on surfaces. This patent was crucial to open that industrial door which for this first product and many others as well. |
Title | A stage for deposition of metal atoms on micro-particular powders |
Description | A mechanical stage allowing atom-efficient deposition of metal atoms onto powder supports of industrial relevance for the production of heterogeneous catalysts. |
Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Impact | Scale up of the single-atom / nanocluster production process to the level where MASI materials can be used in industrial pilot systems. |
Title | MASI image analysis tool |
Description | A python-based tool that can be used to provide analysis of electron microscopy images of metals on supports, including sizes of clusters of atoms |
Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Impact | This tool is utilised to process microscopy imaging of samples across the consortium, and is featured in most current and upcoming publications stemming from this grant. |
Description | EPSRC NetZero Webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | MASI hosted a webinar as part of the EPSRC NetZero event |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |