Hierarchical Nanostructures for energy applications

开发足够的材料供应是世界需要克服的最关键挑战之一，以应对气候变化和人口增长的影响，并建立满足这些需求的创新技术。例如，纳米材料设计小组最近开发了用于有效光催化降解水中污染物的材料，这被认为是最环保的水处理方法之一，因为它利用太阳能利用特殊设计的催化剂材料来破坏污染物。二氧化钛（TiO2）是实现这一目的的理想材料，但纳米结构的TiO2还不能用于工业水平的水处理，部分原因是纳米粉末在使用后不易回收。该团队使用一种称为双聚合物模板静电纺丝的创新制造方法开发了分层多孔二氧化钛（TiO2）纤维。这些纤维具有很强的光吸收性，具有深褐色的外观，并且具有相互连接的大孔，可以增强质量传输，因此在光催化废水处理中具有巨大的潜力。该研究项目将研究这些新开发的由纤维材料组成的分层纳米结构，这些纤维材料也能有效地吸收和/或散热。目的是确定结构纤维组件，它们的结构，组成和功能分级将如何影响这些纤维的性能。该项目将以我们最近在无机纤维材料方面的工作为基础，并将探索内部开发的其他材料系统的生产技术。更具体地说，它将涉及通过各种纺纱技术，3D组件形成以及尖端表征技术的纤维设计和合成。例如，在能源或电子设备中用作冷却材料的材料旨在吸收由于系统内传导和开关损失而产生的热量。这种材料应该表现出相对较高的热容量，以有效地散发多余的热量，并防止设备过热，延长其使用寿命，从而提高可持续性。然而，最近使用的技术仍然是基于铜和/或铝，其导热系数分别在230 W/mK到380 W/mK之间。此外，这些材料既导电又导热，因此由于必须提供额外的绝缘而产生额外的成本。该项目将解决EPSRC在其职权范围内支持的研究指南中列出的战略重点，包括循环经济和先进材料。更具体地说，它将触及以下EPSRC的优先事项：物理和数学科学强国，工程和技术前沿，工程零净值，以及确保工程和物理科学的有效生态系统。

Developing adequate materials supplies is one of the most critical challenges that needs to be overcome for the world to address the impacts of climate change and population growth and to establish innovative technologies that are meet these demands.For example the Nanomaterials by Design group recently developed materials for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in water, which is considered one of the greenest water treatment methods since it harnesses solar energy to destroy pollutants using specially designed catalyst materials. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is ideal for this purpose, but nanostructured TiO2 has not yet been feasible for industrial-level water treatment partly because the nanopowders cannot be easily recovered after use.The team developed hierarchically porous titanium dioxide (TiO2) fibers using an innovative fabrication method called dual-polymer templating electrospinning. These fibers, with their strong light absorption resulting in a dark-brown appearance and interconnected macropores for enhanced mass transport, show significant potential for photocatalytic wastewater treatment.This research project will investigate these newly developed hierarchical nanostructures consisting of fibrous materials which also efficiently absorb and/or dissipate heat. The aim is to define how the structural fibrous assemblies, their architecture, composition and functional grading will affect the properties of these fibres. The project will build on our recent work on inorganic fibrous materials and will explore in-house developed production techniques for other material systems. More specifically it will involve the fibre design and synthesis by means of various spinning techniques, 3D assemblies formation as well as cutting edge characterisation techniques.For example, materials used as cooling materials in energy or electronic devices are aimed to absorb the heat resulted from losses through conduction and switching within the systems. Such materials should exhibit relatively high thermal capacity to dissipate the heat excess efficiently, and prevent the devices from overheating prolonging their life-time and hence sustainability. However, recently used technologies are still based on copper and/or aluminium with heat conductivities in the range from 230 W/mK to 380 W/mK, respectively. Furthermore, these materials are both, electrically and thermally conductive, thus generate extra costs due to the additional insulation which has to be provided.The project will address the EPSRC's strategic priorities as listed in its guide on the research that the EPSRC supports across their remit including circular economy and advanced materials. More specifically it will touch up the following EPSRC priorities: the physical and mathematical sciences powerhouse, frontiers in engineering and technology, engineering net zero, and ensuring an effective ecosystem for engineering and physical sciences.