Understanding and Controlling Nanoscale Molecular Metal Oxides for Responsive Reaction Systems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Inst of Particle Science & Engineering
Abstract
This project builds on the recently established Chemistry-Chemical Engineering-Particle Engineering collaboration between Cronin, Lapkin and Ding, facilitated by an EPSRC Chemistry-Chemical Engineering Discipline Hopping seed grant. The grant enabled collaboration in the form of secondment, developing awareness of new research fields for each of the collaborators. The current discipline hopping project Molecular metal oxides for process intensification enabled the investigators to start identifying the key scientific challenges that lie at the interface between the three disciplines in the areas of intensified catalytic processes and the design of metal clusters with novel physical properties, that can be exploited and utilised in compact reactors. The discipline hopping model gave an opportunity to the co-investigators to gain in-depth understanding of the problems and potentials of new developments in the three research areas: synthesis of novel molecular metal oxides, application of nanoparticles in heat transfer and the design of intensified compact parallel reactor systems, which is now beginning to produce scientific output.1 At the same time, the discipline hopping model revealed the potential for a fundamental development in the research direction within each of the PI's research groups (LC / inorganic cluster chemistry, now having focus on functional molecular metal oxides, AL / novel chemistry for catalysis and reactors, now having focus on exploitation of reversible switching functionalities, YD / heat transfer nanofluids, now focusing on nanoparticles, self assembly, and responsive nanofluids) which could only be possible using the unique combination of expertise of LC, AL and YD. Initial data generated within the discipline hopping grant on the performance of synthesised metal oxides, and the analysis of the future potential of the synergistic development in all three areas resulted in the current proposal. A comprehensive program would allow a step change in process intensification and the underlying chemistry of molecular metal oxides and their self organisation into larger structures and aggregates. This research aims to integrate three main objectives: (1) cluster design and synthesis, (2) catalyst and reactor design, (3) synthesis and characterisation of nanofluids to be combined under a single umbrella to produce an integrated approach to catalysis and process development. As such the personnel employed will also benefit from secondment to each of the collaborating laboratories at critical points during the project. This will have the additional benefit of engaging young researchers at the research interface between chemistry and chemical engineering.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Yulong Ding (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Anagnostopoulos A
(2020)
Effect of SiO2 nanoparticle addition on the wetting and rheological properties of solar salt
in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Anagnostopoulos A
(2020)
Giant Effect of Negative Compressibility in a Water-Porous Metal-CO2 System for Sensing Applications.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces
Anagnostopoulos A
(2019)
Effect of temperature on the internal structure of solar salt-SiO2
Anagnostopoulos A
(2021)
Red mud-molten salt composites for medium-high temperature thermal energy storage and waste heat recovery applications.
in Journal of hazardous materials
Anagnostopoulos A
(2019)
Molecular dynamics simulation of solar salt (NaNO3-KNO3) mixtures
in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Anagnostopoulos A
(2021)
Simplified force field for molecular dynamics simulations of amorphous SiO2 for solar applications
in International Journal of Thermal Sciences
Chen H
(2009)
Rheological behaviour of ethylene glycol-titanate nanotube nanofluids
in Journal of Nanoparticle Research
Chen H
(2009)
Predicting thermal conductivity of liquid suspensions of nanoparticles (nanofluids) based on rheology
in Particuology
Fan X
(2009)
Impact of surface tension and viscosity on solids motion in a conical high shear mixer granulator
in AIChE Journal
Fan X
(2008)
Potential of 'nanofluids' to further intensify microreactors
in Green Chemistry
Description | Through this project, we developed a number of nano-particle suspensions that change their properties and behaviour when subject to temperature change and flow shear. We developed a method for formulation and manufacture of nano-particles in different base liquids that stablised at elevated temperatures. We were able to show that the shear-dependence of stable suspensions could be used for the self-regulation of heat transfer and therefore has the potential to over prevent thermal runaway in chemical reactors. We successfully interpreted the rheological and heat transfer behaviour of nano-suspensions based on theoretical analyses and experimental measurements, contributed to the clarification of the confusion in the community in terms of the mechanisms of heat conduction and rheological behaviour due to various conflicting results. |
Exploitation Route | The route for the findings to be used was defined at the beginning of the project, namely to disseminate to industry as well as to publish through academic papers. The work has led to a significant number of journal publications and industrial interests. We still publish in the area and industrial interest remains even today (2016). |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Chemicals Energy Environment |
Description | The impact of the work includes the following aspects: 1) The work has contributed to our internationally leading position in this area. 2) Through the project, we played a key role in the international benchmark exercise on nano-fluids funded by US NSF. 3) The outcomes were used by a University of Leeds spin out company, Dispersia Ltd. 4) Through the project, a close collaborative relationship was established with MIT, leading to the clarification and conformation of correctness of the Young-Laplace equation for the bubble nucleation on surfaces with nano-sized features. |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Energy,Environment |
Description | Abengoa Solar |
Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Leeds-IPSE483360 |
Organisation | Abengoa |
Department | Abengoa Solar |
Sector | Private |
Country | Spain |
Start | 01/2012 |
End | 12/2014 |
Description | Abengoa Solar NT |
Amount | £22,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Abengoa - TOK - Leeds |
Organisation | Abengoa |
Department | Abengoa Solar |
Sector | Private |
Country | Spain |
Start |
Description | Abengoa Solar NT |
Amount | £22,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Abengoa - TOK - Leeds |
Organisation | Abengoa |
Department | Abengoa Solar |
Sector | Private |
Country | Spain |
Start | 04/2010 |
End | 05/2011 |
Description | EPSRC Programme Grant |
Amount | £4,227,886 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P00945X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2016 |
End | 11/2021 |
Description | Energy Stoage Grand Challenge |
Amount | £924,591 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P003435/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | External collaboration grants |
Amount | £430,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | SGRI Project No 1 |
Organisation | State Grid Corporation of China |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 01/2015 |
End | 10/2017 |
Description | External collaborative research |
Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | SGRI Project No 2 |
Organisation | State Grid Corporation of China |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 12/2015 |
End | 11/2018 |
Description | Procter & Gamble |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Crystallisation 2011 |
Organisation | Procter & Gamble |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 06/2011 |
End | 06/2012 |
Description | Reduce of End Use Energy Demand |
Amount | £1,573,522 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P004709/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2016 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation |
Amount | £92,500 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Corex - understanding |
Organisation | Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 03/2012 |
End | 09/2013 |
Description | Studentship |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Crystallisation 2011 |
Organisation | Procter & Gamble |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 07/2011 |
End | 07/2012 |
Description | Studentship |
Amount | £36,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Structured Particles |
Organisation | Procter & Gamble |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 09/2010 |
End | 09/2013 |
Description | n-COSH |
Amount | £924,591 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P003435/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 10/2019 |