Project Title: Hydrogen Storage in Nanostructures and Materials for a Clean Energy Future - Dr. Congxiao Shang

One of the great challenges in the twenty-first century is unquestionably the search for a clean source of energy to sustain our quality of life, without causing pollution, CO₂ emission, and depletion of fossil fuels. Hydrogen is a promising clean energy source, and can be generated from renewable technologies and used as a thermal combustion fuel in jet, turbine, internal combustion engines or as a cold combustion fuel to produce electrical energy, e.g. in a fuel cell. One of the critical issues for industrial applications is to store and deliver it in a safe and practical manner. Storing hydrogen in an atomic ~{!0~}solid~{!1~}, e.g. in a hydride, represents the safest method with a relatively large H-storage capacity per unit volume, compared with liquid and compressed H₂ in their respective tanks.

Different types of material systems have been studied, including LaNi₅, TiFe compounds, Zr- & Ti-based Laves phases, Mg₂Ni & Mg based materials, composites, carbon nanotubes and sodium alanate related hydrides, Li-N-H system. Unfortunately, none of the tested hydrides satisfies the practical requirements. To improve hydrogen storage properties, mechanical milling will be used to modify the hydride both mechanically and chemically. Some new hybrid systems and nano-structural materials will be investigated, along with suitable chemical /catalytic optimizations, for practical mobile applications.

Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of materials science and environmental issues. They should have at least an upper 2nd class honours degree or equivalent in either Chemistry, Materials Science, Environmental Science, or Physics. To apply, please quote the project title and send a complete application pack to: Postgraduate Admissions Office, Faculty of Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK. Please see the following website for how to apply and downloading an application form:
http://www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/home/schools/sci/env/courses/masters/How%2Bto%2BApply