Sustainable and industrially scalable ultrasonic liquid phase exfoliation technologies for manufacturing 2D advanced functional materials (EcoUltra2D)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Hull
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
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People |
ORCID iD |
| Jiawei Mi (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Morton J
(2022)
An Eco-Friendly Solution for Liquid Phase Exfoliation of Graphite Under Optimised Ultrasonication Conditions
in SSRN Electronic Journal
Khavari M
(2023)
Cavitation-induced shock wave behaviour in different liquids.
in Ultrasonics sonochemistry
Khavari M
(2021)
Characterization of shock waves in power ultrasound
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Ng KL
(2023)
Direct Evidence of the Exfoliation Efficiency and Graphene Dispersibility of Green Solvents toward Sustainable Graphene Production.
in ACS sustainable chemistry & engineering
Morton J
(2023)
Dual frequency ultrasonic cavitation in various liquids: High-speed imaging and acoustic pressure measurements
in Physics of Fluids
Kaur A
(2024)
Dual frequency ultrasonic liquid phase exfoliation method for the production of few layer graphene in green solvents.
in Ultrasonics sonochemistry
Tyurnina A
(2022)
Effects of Green Solvents and Surfactants on the Characteristics of Few-Layer Graphene Produced by Dual-Frequency Ultrasonic Liquid Phase Exfoliation Technique
in SSRN Electronic Journal
| Description | In this report period, we are able to compete two most important MHz real-time imaging of ultrasonic exfoliation of different 2D functional materials. One at the European XFEL in Sept 2022 and the other at the Advanced Photon Source in Dec 2022. The experiments are the world first attempt on using MHz X-ray imaging to study at sub-µs and µm scale the liquid exfoliation dynamics. Approximately 10 TB real-time image data were collected and 50% of them are now analysed. The very rich data allow us to fully validate and optimise the multiphysics numerical models. Experimental and modelling results clearly reveal that (1) Ultrasonic cavitation bubbles implosion occurs in a few ultrasound cycles. At implosion, shock waves with a velocity of ~120 m/s are emitted and acting on the 2D materials. The interactions impose cyclic impulsive forces onto the layer materials and they are the main driving forces for initiating surface defects, expanding interlayer spacing and progressively exfoliating thin graphite bundles into large graphite layers by the continuous fatigue effect. (2) The exfoliation rate and efficiency were largely determined by the size of the effective cavitation zone and the cavitation bubble number density for generating sufficient implosion events for exfoliation. The size of the cavitation zone is predominantly affected by the input acoustic pressure field, the geometry of the sonotrode wave emitting surface, and the properties of the solvents. (3) Outside the cavitation bubble zone, the efficiency of exfoliation decreased significantly and simply increasing the sonication time did not have much effect on increasing the exfoliation efficiency. These findings have guided the design of up-scale ultrasound liquid exfoliation experiment apparatus and the optimisation of the semi-continuous operation for producing sufficient quantities of 2D materials at other partner universities. |
| Exploitation Route | The enhanced exfoliation process due to the shock wave produced at ultrasonic bubble implosion is significant for the manufacture of 2D layer materials. It has the potential to increase significantly the production rate of 2D layer materials, for example, graphene, MoS2, WS2, h-BN, h-BCN, etc. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Energy Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| URL | https://www.hull.ac.uk/work-with-us/research/groups/advanced-materials-and-acoustics |
| Description | The advanced in situ experimental apparatus, the methodologies and techniques developed and used in the observations and measurements of the acoustic cavitation enabled exfoliation phenomena have provided in-depth insights and understanding of the highly transient and complex dynamic phenomena occurred in ultrasound assisted layer exfoliation processes. Optimization of process parameters and upscaling of the process are underway by setting up a continuous recirculating-flow reactor. The main focus is to develop a scale up technology for eco-friendly production of graphene for medical (drag delivery and diagnostics) and environmental (water purification) applications. The developed and well-tested in-situ ultrasound processing units and the methodologies have been used extensively in other projects, for example for studying the fundamental mechanisms of ultrasonic atomization of metal powders, ultrasound-enhanced highly efficient manufacturing of metal hydride materials for solid state hydrogen storage applications, etc. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Chemicals,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |
| Title | Data and videos for ultrafast synchrotron X-ray imaging studies of metal solidification under ultrasound |
| Description | The data presented in this article are related to the paper entitled 'Ultrafast synchrotron X-ray imaging studies of microstructure fragmentation in solidification under ultrasound' [Wang et al., Acta Mater. 144 (2018) 505-515]. This data article provides further supporting information and analytical methods, including the data from both experimental and numerical simulation, as well as the Matlab code for processing the X-ray images. Six videos constructed from the processed synchrotron X-ray images are also provided. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These are a set of high speed X-ray image data and the relevant numerical simulation results (including the Matlab code used for processing the X-ray images) made available for the researchers and engineers to understand the multi-physics and multi-length scale phenomena in ultrasound materials processing. The information is valuable for modelling and simulation validation and developing the optimization strategy for ultrasound melt processing in industry. |
| URL | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352340918301148?via%3Dihub |
| Description | Established a collaborative research consortium with Cranfield University |
| Organisation | Cranfield University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In the past 2 years or so, my team at University of Hull collaborated with the research team at the Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Centre of Cranfield University and formed a research consortium with Brunel University and industry partners to bid for the EPSRC funding call "Sustainable manufacturing, 15 July 2021". My team is responsible for developing low-energy and sustainable external field-based melt processing technology for recycled aluminium alloys. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Cranfield team is responsible for developing digital network-enabled transformation technologies and circular economy-based business model for the casting industry to manufacture aluminium based materials for the low carbon economy. |
| Impact | So far there is no publication output yet. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Linked projects with Oxford University (EP/R031975/1), Brunel University (EP/R031665/1), and Oxford Brooks University (EP/R031401/1) |
| Organisation | Brunel University London |
| Department | Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is research consortium, my team at University of Hull is mainly responsible for studying the fundamental mechanisms of ultrasonic liquid exfoliation using advanced modelling and ultrafast synchrotron X-ray imaging method. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team at University of Oxford is mainly responsible for characterising and testing of the exfoliated 2D materials The team at Brunel University is mainly responsible for developing and optimising sono-exfoliation techniques for graphene and other 2D materials. The team at Oxford Brooks University is mainly responsible for designing new processing reactor, and the production of 2D nanomaterials |
| Impact | Three joint journal publicaitons are currently under review. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Linked projects with Oxford University (EP/R031975/1), Brunel University (EP/R031665/1), and Oxford Brooks University (EP/R031401/1) |
| Organisation | Oxford Brookes University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is research consortium, my team at University of Hull is mainly responsible for studying the fundamental mechanisms of ultrasonic liquid exfoliation using advanced modelling and ultrafast synchrotron X-ray imaging method. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team at University of Oxford is mainly responsible for characterising and testing of the exfoliated 2D materials The team at Brunel University is mainly responsible for developing and optimising sono-exfoliation techniques for graphene and other 2D materials. The team at Oxford Brooks University is mainly responsible for designing new processing reactor, and the production of 2D nanomaterials |
| Impact | Three joint journal publicaitons are currently under review. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Linked projects with Oxford University (EP/R031975/1), Brunel University (EP/R031665/1), and Oxford Brooks University (EP/R031401/1) |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Department of Materials |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is research consortium, my team at University of Hull is mainly responsible for studying the fundamental mechanisms of ultrasonic liquid exfoliation using advanced modelling and ultrafast synchrotron X-ray imaging method. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team at University of Oxford is mainly responsible for characterising and testing of the exfoliated 2D materials The team at Brunel University is mainly responsible for developing and optimising sono-exfoliation techniques for graphene and other 2D materials. The team at Oxford Brooks University is mainly responsible for designing new processing reactor, and the production of 2D nanomaterials |
| Impact | Three joint journal publicaitons are currently under review. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Megahertz Imaging of Ultrasonic Exfoliation of 2D Functional Materials |
| Organisation | European XFEL |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This research partnership involves the research teams from University of Hull, the European XFEL, DESY and Lund University Sweden. We jointly won the XFEL's first official MHz imaging beamtime experiment via the proposal "Megahertz Imaging the Implosion of Ultrasonic Bubbles and Their Effects on Exfoliation of 2D Functional Materials". The experiment was conducted at the SPB/SFX beamline of the EU XFEL on 10-19 September 2022. Myself and my team from the University of Hull provides the scientific research case, i.e., ultrasonic exfoliation of 2D functional materials, and the relevant materials and in-situ study equipment |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team at SPB/SFX beamline of the EU XFEL and that of DESY provide the MHz imaging capability and technical support in executing the experiment. The research team of Lund University provides support in data reduction and processing. |
| Impact | Approximately 7TB MHz imaging data were collected in September 2022 and then fully analyzed in the next 3-4 months. The results clearly reveal and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of how ultrasonic bubble implosion and the associated shock wave in facilitating layer exfoliation of 2D materials. Parts of the results have been presented by Professor Jiawei Mi in an invited plenary speech at the Annual EuXFEL User Meeting on 25-27 Jan 2023, which was well-received by the scientific community. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Megahertz imaging of liquid-bubble-particle multi-time scale interaction dynamics in ultrasonic fields |
| Organisation | European XFEL |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This research partnership involves the research teams from University of Hull, the European XFEL, DESY and Stanford University. We jointly won the XFEL's MHz imaging beamtime experiment via the proposal "Megahertz imaging of liquid-bubble-particle multi-time scale interaction dynamics in ultrasonic fields". The experiment will be conducted at the SPB/SFX beamline of the EU XFEL on 19-22 April 2024. Myself and my team from the University of Hull initiates the scientific research case, i.e., ultrasonic processing of functional materials and metal hydrides as well as the relevant materials and in-situ study equipment |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team at SPB/SFX beamline of the EU XFEL and that of DESY provide the MHz imaging capability and technical support in executing the experiment. The research team of Stanford University provides technical support for imaging and data processing. |
| Impact | The experiment will be conducted at the SPB/SFX beamline of the EU XFEL on 19-22 April 2024. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Megahertz imaging of liquid-bubble-particle multi-time scale interaction dynamics in ultrasonic fields |
| Organisation | Stanford University |
| Department | SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This research partnership involves the research teams from University of Hull, the European XFEL, DESY and Stanford University. We jointly won the XFEL's MHz imaging beamtime experiment via the proposal "Megahertz imaging of liquid-bubble-particle multi-time scale interaction dynamics in ultrasonic fields". The experiment will be conducted at the SPB/SFX beamline of the EU XFEL on 19-22 April 2024. Myself and my team from the University of Hull initiates the scientific research case, i.e., ultrasonic processing of functional materials and metal hydrides as well as the relevant materials and in-situ study equipment |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team at SPB/SFX beamline of the EU XFEL and that of DESY provide the MHz imaging capability and technical support in executing the experiment. The research team of Stanford University provides technical support for imaging and data processing. |
| Impact | The experiment will be conducted at the SPB/SFX beamline of the EU XFEL on 19-22 April 2024. |
| Start Year | 2020 |