EPSRC Core Equipment 2022

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This is an enabling grant that will support a wide range of researchers and fields of research across the engineering and physical sciences (EPS) remit through the upgrade of existing multi-user equipment. Two investment packages have been prioritised that support core EPS research capabilities:1. High resolution X-ray powder diffractometer - powder diffraction is an essential characterization tool for polycrystalline materials, providing information about the atomic structure, compositional homogeneity, orientational and strain distribution in a variety of samples. The Quantum Materials, Photovoltaic, and Nanoscience programmes at Oxford generate a large and steady stream of polycrystalline samples of materials ranging from halide perovskites for solar cell applications to functional oxides and compounds with unique properties at the quantum level. Rapid structural characterisation for each and every sample is vital to achieve the desired characteristics through iterative development cycles. Advanced characterisation such as structural changes at low and very high temperatures are vital to understand the physical properties of the material, for example, sample stability and how the solar efficiency varies at different temperatures. The modern and flexible instrument funded here offers different levels of resolution and flux, and provides both high throughput and reliability.2. Hydrogen Electrolyser - a system to provide high pressure gaseous hydrogen, comprising of five electrolysers, a compressor system and pressurised gaseous hydrogen storage. The equipment will be hosted in the Oxford Thermofluids Institute, alongside over £40m of previous investment in experimental facilities for research into aircraft propulsion (covering heat transfer, hypersonics, instrumentation and numerical modelling) and thermal propulsion systems, supporting nine academic groups, and a number of strategic industrial partnerships (such as Rolls Royce and Jaguar Land Rover). It will enable the ability to produce gaseous hydrogen for the rapidly growing research portfolio in hydrogen for aircraft and road vehicle propulsion within the Oxford Thermofluids Institute, updating the way in which we supply hydrogen to our experimental facilities. There is no other low TRL research centre focussed on the use of hydrogen for propulsion in the UK; with this investment the Oxford Thermofluids Institute will be well-placed to fill this important gap.