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
Corrosion continues to be a major global challenge representing 3% of the GDP of industrialised nations. However, there are still many unanswered scientific and technical questions about the corrosion process and the corrosion products that iron forms. It is not clear which of the many iron oxides, hydroxide and oxyhydroxides form as a scale, particularly
Green hydrogen is generated by splitting water molecules through electrolysis and producing it using electricity from renewable sources is crucial for transitioning to a net-zero economy. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers are leading technologies for this process. Central to these systems is the oxygen-forming reaction, which demands strongly acidic conditions. This step, where water molecules
How do we deliver a low-carbon future while meeting the world’s growing energy demands? On Wednesday 29 April, a webinar brought together professors and researchers from the Institute to explore practical, scalable solutions for the energy transition. Chaired by Professor Stuart Clarke, the session highlighted how fundamental research is enabling cleaner fuels, more efficient machines,
Thin elastomeric gloves are protective equipment and essential in many occupations. Their value in the health and care sector was demonstrated during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Most thin gloves are made from aqueous polymer dispersions, often called a latex, using a dipping process. A hand-shaped mould is dipped into a saturated calcium nitrate solution, followed
The surface of old paintings often exhibits a series of cracks, reminiscent of the cracks which develop on parched ground during a drought. In both cases, the cracks develop over time as a result of surface desiccation. In fact, the evaporation of the solvent from a film of a colloidal suspension induces the formation of
Cleaning is a regular and important process in the food, bioprocessing and pharmaceutical sectors, and is essential to remove fouling deposits and avoid contamination or product crossover. Industrial cleaning is often performed in place, by circulating liquids through the processing equipment in order to remove any residual product. These operations incur penalties in terms of
The effect of pressure on gas-phase adsorption on a solid surface has been well-known since the time of Irving Langmuir, but the situation is less clear for the adsorption of a solute from a liquid solution at high pressure. This could be important in solutions of surface-active molecules for applications under high pressure, such as
Investigating exsolution of metal nanoparticles is an area of evolving interest. Metal nanoparticles have been found to exsolve from metal oxides in the perovskite family under reducing conditions and investigated as fuel cell anodes. Professor Stephen Skinner works at the Department of Materials at Imperial College, and today spoke about the research his group has been carrying
The storage of renewably-generated energy as hydrogen via the electrolysis of water is a fundamental cornerstone of a sustainable hydrogen economy. Conventional electrolysers usually require stable power inputs in order to operate effectively and safely and so may be unsuited to harnessing renewable power, which is often intermittent and diffuse. Professor Mark Symes, from the