Electrochemical Oxidation of Low Molecular Weight Alkanes to Liquid Fuels at Molecular Interfaces
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| David Fermin (Principal Investigator) | |
| Daniela Plana (Researcher) |
Publications
Bennett E
(2016)
A Synthetic Route for the Effective Preparation of Metal Alloy Nanoparticles and Their Use as Active Electrocatalysts
in ACS Catalysis
Celorrio V
(2017)
Strain Effects on the Oxidation of CO and HCOOH on Au-Pd Core-Shell Nanoparticles
in ACS Catalysis
Fermin D
(2018)
(Invited) Tracking Hydrodynamic Signatures of Metal Nucleation Events Via Lateral Molecular Force Microscopy
in ECS Meeting Abstracts
Gründer Y
(2013)
Solids at the liquid-liquid interface: Electrocatalysis with pre-formed nanoparticles
in Electrochimica Acta
Harniman R
(2017)
Real-time tracking of metal nucleation via local perturbation of hydration layers
in Nature Communications
Humphrey J
(2016)
Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide at Gold-Palladium Core-Shell Nanoparticles: Product Distribution versus Shell Thickness
in ChemCatChem
Humphrey J
(2015)
Surface Activation of Pt Nanoparticles Synthesised by "Hot Injection" in the Presence of Oleylamine
in Chemistry - A European Journal
Ibañez D
(2015)
Monitoring charge transfer at polarisable liquid/liquid interfaces employing time-resolved Raman spectroelectrochemistry
in Electrochemistry Communications
Ibañez D
(2016)
Spectroelectrochemistry at free-standing carbon nanotubes electrodes
in Electrochimica Acta
| Description | The key aim of the project is to promote the partial oxidation of low molecular weight alkanes at ambient pressure and temperature. The rationale for attempting this goal is to find scalable ways to increase the added value of commodities such as natural gas by selectively transforming methane (main component) into methanol. The project so far have focused on promoting the photo-oxidation of model organic species by TiO2 nanoparticles at the interface between two immiscible liquids. The principle has been proved with model redox species, however, oxidation of alkanes is yet to be fully demonstrated. A number of publications around these issues are currently being prepared. |
| Exploitation Route | The partial oxidation of methane to methanol under mild conditions is one of the grand challenges in the field of catalysis. It can have a huge impact on the technology and economics surrounding exploitation of natural gas reserves. The studies carried out in this project aims at a establishing a new framework for designing catalysts and interfaces for this purpose. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Energy,Environment |
| Description | in 2014, dissemination of experimental results has been done in four three international conferences: 1. D.J. Fermin: Dynamic Photoelectrochemical Responses in Oriented High Aspect Ratio Semiconductor Assemblies, MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, 21-25 April 2014 2. D. Plana and D.J. Fermín: Electron Transfer at Liquid/Liquid Interfaces Photoinduced by Colloidal Semiconductor Nanostructures. Electrochem 2014, Loughborough University, September 2014. 3. D. Plana, C. Manser and D.J. Fermín: Photoinduced Multi-Electron Transfer at Liquid/Liquid Interfaces Promoted by Semiconductor Nanostructures 65th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry. Lausanne, August 2014. In terms of outreach activities, the following activities have been carried out: 1. "Pint of Science" (19-21 May 2014), an international, volunteer-based annual festival that delivers science talks to the general public at pubs. Dr Plana was part of the Bristol Organising Team and Prof Fermín gave a talk during the festival. 2. "Spectroscopy Tours" (September 2014) at the School of Chemistry, University of Bristol; the tour consists of a series of interactive talks/demonstrations about various spectroscopic techniques to A-level students |
| First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
| Sector | Chemicals,Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account |
| Amount | £15,283 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2016 |
| End | 05/2016 |
| Title | Electrocatalysis |
| Description | Project Title: Electrochemical Oxidation of Low Molecular Weight Alkanes to Liquid Fuels at Molecular Interfaces This project aims at developing nanoscale catalysts for the electrochemical oxidation methane to methanol at molecular interfaces. The project was supported by EPSRC (EP/K007025/1) |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Description | Electrochemistry of high surface area diamond electrodes |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To rationalise the electrochemical properties of new materials developed by our partner team |
| Collaborator Contribution | Synthesis and characterisation of carbon nanotubes templated diamond electrodes |
| Impact | A publication appearing in ACS Applied Interfaces in 2014 was the key outcome of the collaboration (see publication records) |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Cabot Institute Magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Articled co-authored by Dr. D. Plana entitled: "Materials and energy over a pint?" Article co-authored by Dr. Plana reporting on the lecture by Prof David Fermin during the Pint of Science event at Bristol |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Chemistry Explored |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Article co-authored by Dr. D. Plana enitled: "From bench side to bar table" This article describes the thought behind the Pint of Science events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.bris.ac.uk/media-library/sites/chemistry/documents/chemistry-explored-september-edition.p... |
| Description | Pint of Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The public was given a general description of global Energy challenges, contrasting the potential role of nuclear and renewable energy sources. A lot of discussions were centred around the fact that the only global energy source that we could meet energy demands is Solar, excluding fossil fuels. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Spectroscopy Tours |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The activity involved talks and demonstration of key spectroscopic techniques employed in Chemistry. The activities were designed for A-level student. We anticipate that these activities will have an impact in the number of undergraduate applications to the School of Chemistry |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |