Functional Metal-Nitrogen-Hydrogen Systems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: School of Chemistry
Abstract
Meeting the challenge of the transition to a sustainable energy system requires rethinking the way we generate and store energy. This transition will require new energy storage materials which can facilitate rapid, efficient, cost-effective and scalable energy storage. Metal-nitrogen-hydrogen materials are a largely overlooked class of functional inorganic solids which have the potential to contribute in a range of energy storage applications. They can be used as ammonia synthesis and decomposition catalysts, enabling the storage of large quantities of renewable energy for transport, taking advantage of ammonia's high energy density and easy transport characteristics. They show promise as ionic conductors with far greater conductivity than analogous oxide structures, which may be useful in new fuel cell and battery technologies. This Fellowship seeks to explore these properties and develop a family of metal-nitrogen-hydrogen materials for next-generation energy storage technologies.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Joshua Makepeace (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
David W
(2024)
2023 roadmap on ammonia as a carbon-free fuel
in Journal of Physics: Energy
| Description | We have established a survey of the performance characteristics of lithium imide as an electrolyte for solid state lithium-ion batteries. We have demonstrated the impacts of varying composition on the lithium ion conductivity. We have investigated the nature of new catalysts for producing hydrogen from ammonia. |
| Exploitation Route | Development of new batteries and catalysts. |
| Sectors | Chemicals Energy |
| Description | Technical interview with JERA |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Developing Lithium Imide As A Solid Electrolyte |
| Amount | £40,614 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Title | Research data for paper "Quasi-liquid grain boundary conductivity in solid electrolyte candidate lithium imide" |
| Description | Raw data associated with the paper. Diffraction patterns, impedance spectra, Raman spectra. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Manuscript |
| URL | http://edata.bham.ac.uk/1212/ |
| Description | Microwave cavity perturbation with Cardiff University |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Department | School of Engineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have provided samples of lithium ion conductors for microwave cavity perturbation experiments. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof Adrian Porch and Dr Dan Slocombe provided access to the equipment, assistance with the measurements and data analysis |
| Impact | Data contributed to a conference presentation. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Solid State NMR |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Department of Chemistry |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have provided samples of lithium-ion conductors for measurement |
| Collaborator Contribution | PhD student Teresa Insinna has collected NMR data on the samples, and assisted with data interpretation and analysis. |
| Impact | Enhanced understanding of the materials which is feeding into the preparation of a publication. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | "Chemical and electrochemical energy storage using lithium imide" - Nottingham Trent University Department of Chemistry Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research talk which sparked questions and discussion afterwards, and potential areas of collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | "Chemical and electrochemical energy storage using lithium imide" - RSC Scottish Dalton Meeting, University of Glasgow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research talk which sparked questions and discussion afterwards, and potential areas of collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | "Designing a Li-N-H anti-fluorite solid electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries" - Faraday Institution Conference 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presenting at premiere battery meeting in the UK, raising profile of research work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | "Observing bulk transport of reactive species in ammonia synthesis catalyst composites" - European Powder Diffraction International Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Plans for future activity |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | • "Chemical and electrochemical energy storage using lithium imide" - Keele University School of Chemistry Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research talk which sparked questions and discussion afterwards, and potential areas of collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | • "Chemical and electrochemical energy storage using lithium imide" - University of St Andrews School of Chemistry Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Research talk which sparked questions and discussion afterwards, and potential areas of collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |