Centre for Materials in Energy and Catalysis

We develop high-performance materials for next-generation energy storage devices, including lithium-ion batteries, lithium/sodium-sulphur batteries, and fuel cells, as well as aqueous battery systems such as Zn–Br₂, Zn–I₂, and related chemistries.

We design active, selective, and stable electro-catalysts for renewable energy conversion reactions such as water electrolysis, CO2 reduction reaction, and green ammonia production.

We design semiconductor and carbon-based photo-catalysts for photocatalytic water purification, solar photovoltaic, solar water splitting to produce H2 and O2, photocatalytic reduction of CO2, photocatalytic synthesis of organic substances, and solar gasification.

We build molecular models for materials and investigate their activity for each reaction and application by quantum chemistry computations, as well as develop mathematical modelling of materials synthesis from laboratory to pilot to commercial production.

We develop nano-catalysts for hydrolysis, carbonisation and liquefaction of organic feedstocks, and catalytic cracking of hydrothermally produced oils.

We explore novel nanostructured semi-conducting catalysts for antibacterial applications and water disinfection and investigate biocompatible and biodegradable nanostructures to immobilise protein-based or biomimetic biocatalysts for organic/polymer synthesis, biomass conversion, and CO2 looping.