Nicola Mingotti 
Martin Blunt is the Professor of Flow in Porous Media at Imperial College, London. Some of his research work focusses on the flows in underground sedimentary rocks: this is where oil and gas are traditionally found, but is also where we must now look to store carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and thermal energy. Safely storing large
The Energy Masterclass will be a two-day intensive programme of lectures and discussions delivered by experts across the energy demand and supply sectors. It will concentrate on the energy transition and the technologies required to optimise emerging energy systems. We will discuss the current energy system, and the different contributions provided by a number
The adsorption of molecules at solid-liquid interfaces is essential in applications such as adhesion, colloidal stabilisation, surface functionalisation, patterning, and tribology. While the properties of modified surfaces can be assessed under operating conditions, the underlying molecular-scale mechanisms can be difficult to determine. Nonetheless, it is important to understand how microscopic properties control macroscopic behaviour, so
Lava domes typically form during the eruption of highly viscous lava from a volcanic vent. Due to its high viscosity, the lava spread relatively slowly over a limited spatial area. Nevertheless, lava domes pose a lethal risk, as they can explode or undergo cyclic collapse, generating pyroclastic flows. In 1982, a theoretical model was developed
Gravity currents are flows driven by density differences between a fluid and its surroundings. These occur in various natural phenomena, such as volcanic ash flows, snow avalanches, and dust storms, as well as industrial applications like seabed mining. Over the years, much work has been done at the Institute to investigate the behaviour of these
The rapid electrification of transport and the increasing demand for grid storage urge us to find alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, which rely on critical materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, raising significant supply and environmental concerns. Dr Svetlana Menkin, from the Department of Chemistry, has been working on zinc-based batteries as a promising alternative for
We are delighted to announce a series of PhD Scholarships for students with backgrounds in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Chemical Engineering or Engineering, interested in embarking on a PhD project related to energy, environment and fluid mechanics, in the Institute. Details of the research in the Institute may be found here and some of the
Particle-driven gravity currents arise in many situations in nature and industry, including large turbidity currents that spread up to hundreds of km over the sea floor, volcanic ash flows that travel tens of km from volcanic vents, and particle suspensions produced during deep-sea mining operations. Much research into the dynamics of these flows has been
Electrochemical splitting of water to generate hydrogen as a fuel is one of the important possible approaches to replace fossil fuels. Demand for hydrogen is increasing rapidly owing to its various applications in the chemical industry, transportation, and power sectors. Hydrogen is also essential to decarbonise major industrial processes such as the Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis
The performance of Zn metal batteries is limited by the parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which occurs at potentials similar to Zn plating. The HER contributes to losses in coulombic efficiency and causes passivation via local pH changes, resulting in by-product formation on the electrode surface. Understanding these processes is essential for controlling Zn morphology