NanoComposites for Active Gas Encapsulation: (nanoCAGE)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
The NanoComposites for Active Gas Encapsulation (nanoCAGE) project will deliver smart composite materials to address the problem of safe and efficient hydrogen storage.
As a future replacement for fossil fuels, hydrogen is a promising low-carbon, renewable energy carrier, but as a low-density gas it is challenging to store on board a vehicle. Nanoporous materials (materials containing holes only a few nanometers in diameter) have been shown to spontaneously adsorb hydrogen so that it can be stored at exceedingly high densities under the right conditions. However, storage of industrially relevant amounts of hydrogen (i.e. at levels approaching US Department of Energy technical targets) via adsorption in porous materials necessitates storage at very high pressures (typically >350 bar) or very low temperatures (e.g. 77 K).
The work described here challenges conventional approaches to the development of porous materials for storage of hydrogen which rely on simple adsorption of gases onto materials surfaces, and instead will change the mechanism by which the hydrogen is stored. These new composites will be based on encapsulating existing nanoporous adsorbents in a continuous matrix of an active material that can control when gases are allowed in or out of the pores of the adsorbent. The novel approach is that the active components will be triggered to undergo a reversible change in structure to induce controlled and reversible pore blocking to either allow or obstruct the movement of gases to or from the pores of the adsorbent, allowing these materials to act as a "nanocage" for gas molecules.
Another key innovation of the nanoCAGE project is the introduction of control over the trapping and release mechanisms using changes in external conditions such as light, heat or application of a magnetic field to change the structure of the active phase.
This approach, building upon the PI's expertise in hydrogen densification in nanoporous materials, could increase the amount of hydrogen stored in these materials at room temperature by ten times, making economical storage of hydrogen possible and providing a gateway to use of hydrogen for sustainable energy applications. This will accelerate the adoption of non-polluting hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and will lead to benefits to the UK in terms of improved air quality, reduced carbon emissions and decreased reliance on imports of fossil fuels.
These composite materials could furthermore find application in many other fields of research (for example in carbon dioxide capture, controllable drug delivery and smart packaging) and will allow the PI to develop an exciting new research area in active gas trapping composites.
As a future replacement for fossil fuels, hydrogen is a promising low-carbon, renewable energy carrier, but as a low-density gas it is challenging to store on board a vehicle. Nanoporous materials (materials containing holes only a few nanometers in diameter) have been shown to spontaneously adsorb hydrogen so that it can be stored at exceedingly high densities under the right conditions. However, storage of industrially relevant amounts of hydrogen (i.e. at levels approaching US Department of Energy technical targets) via adsorption in porous materials necessitates storage at very high pressures (typically >350 bar) or very low temperatures (e.g. 77 K).
The work described here challenges conventional approaches to the development of porous materials for storage of hydrogen which rely on simple adsorption of gases onto materials surfaces, and instead will change the mechanism by which the hydrogen is stored. These new composites will be based on encapsulating existing nanoporous adsorbents in a continuous matrix of an active material that can control when gases are allowed in or out of the pores of the adsorbent. The novel approach is that the active components will be triggered to undergo a reversible change in structure to induce controlled and reversible pore blocking to either allow or obstruct the movement of gases to or from the pores of the adsorbent, allowing these materials to act as a "nanocage" for gas molecules.
Another key innovation of the nanoCAGE project is the introduction of control over the trapping and release mechanisms using changes in external conditions such as light, heat or application of a magnetic field to change the structure of the active phase.
This approach, building upon the PI's expertise in hydrogen densification in nanoporous materials, could increase the amount of hydrogen stored in these materials at room temperature by ten times, making economical storage of hydrogen possible and providing a gateway to use of hydrogen for sustainable energy applications. This will accelerate the adoption of non-polluting hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and will lead to benefits to the UK in terms of improved air quality, reduced carbon emissions and decreased reliance on imports of fossil fuels.
These composite materials could furthermore find application in many other fields of research (for example in carbon dioxide capture, controllable drug delivery and smart packaging) and will allow the PI to develop an exciting new research area in active gas trapping composites.
Planned Impact
Provision of higher capacity and more robust new materials that could be used to safely and efficiently store hydrogen would facilitate the widespread adoption of hydrogen as a sustainable, non-polluting alternative to fossil fuel-based energy systems. The development of such materials would have demonstrable positive impacts on the economy, through the creation of new jobs and industries based on the use of hydrogen as a fuel source, reducing reliance on foreign oil and gas and providing a method of storing surplus renewably-generated energy as hydrogen.
There will also be positive impacts on the environment, through elimination of carbon dioxide and pollutant emissions resulting from combustion of fossil fuels. Vehicular carbon emissions, air pollution and the negative effects on health and the environment are a growing concern with the transportation sector accounting for 40% of total energy consumption in the UK in 2015 [2]. High-performance energy storage materials are expected to make a significant environmental impact, as affordable and efficient energy storage is one of the current barriers precluding further growth of the renewable energy sector. Growing the share of renewable energies in the energy mix will help the UK reach its legislated decarbonisation targets, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable energy system.
Finally, there will be many positive impacts on public well-being, through improved air quality, lower domestic fuel prices and new products such as quieter, non-polluting fuel cell vehicles. In addition, replacement of fossil fuels with hydrogen (which can be generated from water using surplus renewable energy) will enable the UK to generate a greater proportion of its own energy domestically, decreasing reliance on imported fossil fuels, which may result in lower energy costs, reductions in energy poverty and increased energy security for the UK.
Beyond the UK this research could enable use of sustainable energy storage worldwide. This could remove barriers to industrial development and economic growth, result in lower carbon dioxide emissions and reduced climate change as well as making provision of sustainable energy more equitable and widely available, addressing a range of urgent global issues and resulting in positive impacts on a global scale.
[1] Energy Consumption in the UK 2016, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-consumption-in-the-uk, accessed 1/5/17);
There will also be positive impacts on the environment, through elimination of carbon dioxide and pollutant emissions resulting from combustion of fossil fuels. Vehicular carbon emissions, air pollution and the negative effects on health and the environment are a growing concern with the transportation sector accounting for 40% of total energy consumption in the UK in 2015 [2]. High-performance energy storage materials are expected to make a significant environmental impact, as affordable and efficient energy storage is one of the current barriers precluding further growth of the renewable energy sector. Growing the share of renewable energies in the energy mix will help the UK reach its legislated decarbonisation targets, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable energy system.
Finally, there will be many positive impacts on public well-being, through improved air quality, lower domestic fuel prices and new products such as quieter, non-polluting fuel cell vehicles. In addition, replacement of fossil fuels with hydrogen (which can be generated from water using surplus renewable energy) will enable the UK to generate a greater proportion of its own energy domestically, decreasing reliance on imported fossil fuels, which may result in lower energy costs, reductions in energy poverty and increased energy security for the UK.
Beyond the UK this research could enable use of sustainable energy storage worldwide. This could remove barriers to industrial development and economic growth, result in lower carbon dioxide emissions and reduced climate change as well as making provision of sustainable energy more equitable and widely available, addressing a range of urgent global issues and resulting in positive impacts on a global scale.
[1] Energy Consumption in the UK 2016, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-consumption-in-the-uk, accessed 1/5/17);
People |
ORCID iD |
Valeska Ting (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Brewster C
(2023)
Hydrogen sorption on microporous carbon/sulfur nanocomposite systems
in Energy Advances
Comandini G
(2023)
Acoustic transmission loss in Hilbert fractal metamaterials
in Scientific Reports
Comandini G
(2022)
Sound absorption in Hilbert fractal and coiled acoustic metamaterials
in Applied Physics Letters
Terry LR
(2022)
Manipulation of the crystalline phase diagram of hydrogen through nanoscale confinement effects in porous carbons.
in Nanoscale
Mahmoud LAM
(2022)
Zirconium-Based MOFs and Their Biodegradable Polymer Composites for Controlled and Sustainable Delivery of Herbicides.
in ACS applied bio materials
Luke EJ
(2022)
Synthesis of porous high-temperature superconductors via a melamine formaldehyde sacrificial template.
in Nanoscale advances
Titirici M
(2022)
The sustainable materials roadmap
in Journal of Physics: Materials
Yao B
(2021)
Rapid ultrasound-assisted synthesis of controllable Zn/Co-based zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoparticles for heterogeneous catalysis
in Microporous and Mesoporous Materials
Tian M
(2021)
Effect of pore geometry on ultra-densified hydrogen in microporous carbons
in Carbon
Bimbo N
(2021)
Kinetics and enthalpies of methane adsorption in microporous materials AX-21, MIL-101 (Cr) and TE7
in Chemical Engineering Research and Design
Doan HV
(2021)
Improved photodegradation of anionic dyes using a complex graphitic carbon nitride and iron-based metal-organic framework material.
in Faraday discussions
Rowlandson J
(2020)
Toward Process-Resilient Lignin-Derived Activated Carbons for Hydrogen Storage Applications
in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
Hunter R
(2020)
The effect of precursor structure on porous carbons produced by iron-catalyzed graphitization of biomass
in Materials Advances
Le Vay K
(2020)
Controlling Protein Nanocage Assembly with Hydrostatic Pressure.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Tanvir A
(2020)
Nanoporous electrospun cellulose acetate butyrate nanofibres for oil sorption
in Materials Letters
Doan HV
(2019)
Hierarchical Metal-Organic Frameworks with Macroporosity: Synthesis, Achievements, and Challenges.
in Nano-micro letters
Doan HV
(2019)
Defective hierarchical porous copper-based metal-organic frameworks synthesised via facile acid etching strategy.
in Scientific reports
Rowlandson J
(2019)
Influence of Aromatic Structure on the Thermal Behaviour of Lignin
in Waste and Biomass Valorization
Rowlandson J
(2019)
Application of Experimental Design to Hydrogen Storage: Optimisation of Lignin-Derived Carbons
in C - Journal of Carbon Research
Noguera-Díaz A
(2019)
Flexible ZIFs: probing guest-induced flexibility with CO 2 , N 2 and Ar adsorption
in Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology
Lincoln R
(2019)
Multifunctional composites: a metamaterial perspective
in Multifunctional Materials
Kobielska PA
(2018)
Polynuclear Complexes as Precursor Templates for Hierarchical Microporous Graphitic Carbon: An Unusual Approach.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces
Mulakkal M
(2018)
Responsive cellulose-hydrogel composite ink for 4D printing
in Materials & Design
Description | -characterisation of unusual dense hydrogen phases caused by confinement in porous materials -ability to create responsive nanoconmposites for gas trapping |
Exploitation Route | Materials modification could lead to stabilisation of dense hydrogen phases under milder pressure and temperature conditions for use in sustainable energy storage for transportation. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Environment,Transport |
Description | This project has been highlighted in blogs and non-technical interviews |
First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Environment,Transport |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Future Energy Strategy for the Ministry of Defence - expert contribution |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship |
Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2020 |
End | 08/2022 |
Description | Emerging Innovations |
Amount | £95,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Ministry of Defence |
Sector | Public |
Country | Slovenia |
Start | 11/2022 |
End | 06/2023 |
Description | Faculty Pump Priming |
Amount | £3,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Bristol |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2020 |
End | 04/2020 |
Description | GEM neutron beamtime |
Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2023 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Impact Acceleration Account Funding |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2021 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | Research Fund |
Amount | £4,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2021 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | Catalytic testing of hierarchical porous materials |
Organisation | RMIT University |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided novel samples for catalytic testing |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided training in reaction setup, helped in result analysis |
Impact | Paper in preparation https://chemrxiv.org/articles/Novel_Hierarchical_Copper-Based_Metal-Organic_Frameworks_for_Improved_Catalytic_Performance/9699863 |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Characterisation of dense hydrogen phases in porous carbons with UNLV |
Organisation | University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Bristol provided the nanomaterials and expertise in hydrogen density characterisation. |
Collaborator Contribution | UNLV provided characterisation techniques and training in diamond anvil cell and cryogenic raman techniques. |
Impact | Preliminary data for joint publication. Interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering, chemistry and physics. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Testing materials for hydrogen storage |
Organisation | Immaterial Labs |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Testing and characterisation of monolithic MOF materials for hydrogen storage and separation |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision on materials for testing, with a view to commercial applications |
Impact | Materials testing (in kind contribution from Immaterial in the form of test materials and expertise). |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | 15th International Conference on Materials Chemistry, organised by RSC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation: Engineering hierarchical pore structures for improved catalytic performance of metal-organic frameworks |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | A potentially ground-breaking idea of tackling Covid-19 in Vietnam |
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 | This article, afforded by Huan Doan's preliminary studies in MOFs, zeolites and porous silicas, has capitalized on the research momentum to fully explore a potentially ground-breaking idea of tackling Covid-19 in Vietnam |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://khoahocphattrien.vn/khoa-hoc/ung-dung-khoa-hoc-vat-lieu-de-doi-pho-covid19/2020042703513876p... |
Description | A talk at Conference on Science at Extreme Conditions, organised by IOP |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation: Using high-pressure CO2 in preparation of metal-organic frameworks: a promising way to achieve additional porosity? |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | A talk at Dubinin Conference "Physicochemical Problems of Adsorption, Structure and Surface Chemistry of Nanoporous Materials", organised by IPCE RAS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation: Effect of mono- and divalent extra-framework cations on the structure and accessibility of porosity of chabazite zeolites |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | A talk at Pacifichem 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | • Oral presentation: Engineering porous materials for sustainable chemical technologies |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Chair and give a talk at Sustainable Chemical Approaches for CO2 Reduction: UK-Brazil Newton Fund Researcher Links Workshop, organised by University of Leeds |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | • Conference Chair and Oral presentation: Novel hierarchical porous materials for improved catalytic performance |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Communicate 2020, organised by the Bristol Natural History Consortium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation: Novel nanomaterials for renewable energy storage |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Delegate, International Younger Chemists Network (IYCN) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Contributed to the development and promotion of IYCN in Vietnam |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Energiser presentation at EPSRC ALL-SAT meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Energiser presentation about my EPSRC Fellowship at EPSRC ALL-SAT meeting for all Strategic Advisory Board members (London 2019) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited presentation at MOF 2018 conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presentation at MOF 2018 conference to ~ 100 audience members which sparked discussion and questions afterwards |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Invited talk at Porous Materials Group Online Webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | nvited talk: Engineering porous materials for sustainable chemical technologies |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | MOFs for energy and the environment Faraday Discussion, organised by RSC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation: Improved anionic dyes photodegradation using a complex graphitic carbon nitride and iron-based metal-organic framework material |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Operation Committee, Vietnamese Young Academy (VYA) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Connected and gathered Vietnamese intellectuals to cooperate and support each other, and work towards the development of science, technology, and socio-economics of Vietnam through practical activities |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://vietnamyoungacademy.org/ |
Description | Outreach lecture series for University of Bristol Access to Bristol scheme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 30 pupils attended a series of online lectures and workshops on environmental engineering. They critically discussed the issue of hydrogen storage and how nanoporous materials research can assist in this area. Feedback indicated students engaged well with the subject and reported a change in how they will view sustainable engineering and hydrogen storage in the future. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Outreach lecture series for University of Bristol Widening Participation scheme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 30 pupils attended a series of online lectures and workshops on environmental engineering. They critically discussed the issue of hydrogen storage and how nanoporous materials research can assist in this area. Feedback indicated students engaged well with the subject and had not thought critically in this way before. A future workshop series on this subject was planned. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | PRIME 2020, organised by the Electrochemical Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited talk: Defective hierarchical porous copper-based metal-organic frameworks synthesised via facile acid etching strategy |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Probing interactions of nanomaterials containing different pore dimensions and geometries with gases using neutron scattering |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I have highlighted my work on using neutron scattering to characterize porous materials containing different pore dimensions and geometries for hydrogen storage applications in the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.isis.stfc.ac.uk/Pages/ECNS-highlight-Huan-Doan.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3rmRiyBuuFrfw_DxfQ2l3wQVB... |
Description | STEM for Britain 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | STEM for Britain is an annual event where early-career researchers are given the opportunity to present their research to the Members of the Parliament. The intended purpose of this event is to foster engagement between researchers and the MPs/other researchers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | http://www.setforbritain.org.uk/index.asp |
Description | VANJ 2020, organised by the Vietnamese Academic Network in Japan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation: Novel hierarchical porous materials for improved catalytic performance |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |