Director & Co Directors
Project Manager
Theme Leads
Co-Investigators
Hub Researchers
Dr Rajan Jagpal
University of Bath
Dr Selda Özkan
University of St Andrews
Dr Emre Kılıç
University of Surrey
Dr Sibimol Luke
University College London
Dr Seokyoung (Chris) Kim
University College London
Alex Newman
University of Sheffield
Dr Louisa Wood
University of Portsmouth
Dr Huimin Zhang
University of Warwick
Dr Josh Kassongo
University of Sheffield
Dr Rob Piling
University of Sheffield
Associated Post Doctoral Researchers
PhD Students
Hub Administrators
Flexifund Team
Decoupled Electrolysis of Seawater
PROF MARK SYMES
University of Glasgow
Professor Mark Symes is Professor of Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Technology at the University of Glasgow. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Cambridge and earned his PhD at the University of Edinburgh.
Researching the potential to create an electrolyser that can produce hydrogen directly from seawater, by using the disruptive approach of decoupled electrolysis (forming the oxygen and hydrogen products at different times, at different rates and in different locations). Producing hydrogen directly from seawater would be a major breakthrough, particularly where freshwater supplies are limited, such as in offshore or desert locations.
Repurposing the Economy Future of the North Sea (MHYSTIC)
DR ALFONSO MARTINEZ FELIPE
University of Aberdeen
Dr Alfonso Martinez Felipe is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Aberdeen. He gained his BEng from the Universitat Politècnica de València and holds a joint PhD from the University of Aberdeen and the University of Valencia.
Describing and optimising the key mechanical properties of materials used for hydrogen storage and transport; enhancing the safety of long-distance H2 transmission networks; determining the feasibility of repurposing offshore assets in the North Sea for H2 production, generation and storage.
Multi-purpose Exploration of Ammonia Reduction of Iron Oxides to Enable Green Steel and High Purity (MARIO)
PROF AIDONG YANG
University of Oxford
Professor Aidong Yang is a Senior Research Fellow at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford. He holds a BEng and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Hebei University of Technology and Dalian University of Technology.
Ammonia as a hydrogen carrier has great potential in decarbonising industrial and energy systems, particularly in the long-distance integration between regions. MARIO will establish the potential of techniques (ammonia direct reduction and hydrogen direct reduction) in steel production, a sector responsible for approximately 8 percent of global carbon emissions.
Stabilizing the AEM Catalyst Interface (STACI)
PROF ALEXANDER COWAN
University of Liverpool
Professor Alexander Cowan is Head of Chemistry at the University of Liverpool. He completed his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Nottingham and has held research positions at Imperial College London.
Developing new electrode and membrane architectures of anion exchange membrane wafer electrolysers (AEM WEs) to increase device stability and build device and system-level models of the new structures. The project seeks to increase the lifetime of AEM WEs, which are around 40 percent cheaper than conventional acid proton exchange membrane water electrolysers.
Understanding Synergistic Effects in Iridium-Free Bimetallic Oxide Electrocatalysts
DR ALEX WALTON
University of Manchester
Dr Alex Walton is a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Manchester. He earned his MSci in Physics from Durham University and completed his PhD in Physics at the University of Leeds.
Researching oxides of Ruthenium in the use of acid water electrolysis for large-scale and stable green hydrogen production. Ruthenium is an abundant, cheap and comparable alternative to Iridium.
An Ultra Low NOx Emission Catalytic Burner Fuelled with Neat Ammonia (UNISON)
DR DAWEI WU
University of Birmingham
Dr Dawei Wu is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He earned his PhD from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and leads work on low-carbon fuel combustion systems.
Seeking to improve the combustion of neat ammonia by exploring fuel additive-enhanced combustion or a catalytic burner that enables ammonia-hydrogen co-combustion. Key goals include optimising combustion efficiency, minimising emissions, and providing industry-ready solutions for ammonia combustion.
Novel Low Cost, High Performance Opto Chemical Hydrogen Sensors (OptiSen)
PROF GERARD FERNANDO
University of Birmingham
Professor Gerard Fernando is Professor of Polymer Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He holds a BSc and PhD and leads the Sensors and Composites group.
Developing optical fibre-based sensors that are low cost, robust and multi-functional for hydrogen storage and transport applications.
Ammonia Release Safety Modelling
PROF JENNIFER X WEN
University of Surrey
Professor Jennifer Wen is Professor in Energy Resilience at the University of Surrey. She is internationally recognised for her work in safety modelling of hydrogen and alternative fuels.
Ammonia is an efficient hydrogen carrier and clean alternative fuel for marine transport and power generation. This project will investigate and model safety scenarios that may occur in line with increased global transportation, storage and bunkering of ammonia.
Mitigating Degradation and Enhancing Durability in Metal Supported Solid Oxide Electrolysers
PROF STEPHEN SKINNER
Imperial College London
Professor Stephen Skinner is Professor of Materials Chemistry at Imperial College London. He holds a PhD in Materials Science and specialises in high temperature electrochemical devices.
Characterising and testing of power cells to understand the relationships between solid oxide electrolysers and electrochemical performance, materials degradation and predicting the useful lifetime of cells and devices.
Triple Boost Strategy for Low Energy Consuming Catalytic Ammonia Synthesis (Trimonia)
PROF TERENCE LIU
Northumbria University
Professor Terence Liu is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering at Northumbria University. He holds a PhD in Catalysis from Zhejiang University.
This project aims to implement a systematic, performance enhancing approach for the highly efficient and low energy catalytic synthesis of ammonia from atmospheric Nitrogen.