University of Nottingham

Advanced Materials Research Group,

School of Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing Engineering and Management

Areas of Interest:

The synthesis, modification and performance testing of nanomaterials for hydrogen storage. Systems of interest include catalysed light metal hydrides, nanostructured carbons and nanocomposites.

Activity and Expertise:

The group has expertise in synthesis of light metal hydrides (based on Mg and Al), LaNi₅, Laves phase hydrides and nanostructured carbons, surface modifications of these compounds and heterogeneous catalysis. Extensive analysis facilities are available for materials characterisation including TEM, SEM and in situ high temperature high pressure XRD, surface characterisation (XPS, TOF-SIMS) and gas sorption investigations up to 100 bar (IGA, Sieverts).

Future work will include investigating new materials, enhancing dehydrogenation kinetics via doping and/or incorporating catalysts and the engineering validation of the state of the art in storage materials.

Credentials:

UK expert on the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) task 17, Liquid and Solid State Hydrogen Storage Materials.

Partner in the Supergen’s UK Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Consortium.

Over £4 million funding for hydrogen related projects. Sponsors include UK Research Councils, MoD DSTL and DTI.

The team has over 30 publications on hydrogen storage materials.

Fuel cell and/or Hydrogen courses and modules offered:

None currently.

Contact: Dr Gavin Walker

Email: gavin.walker@nottingham.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)115 9513752

Address: Advanced Materials Research Group,

School 4M,

University of Nottingham,

Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK.

Website: www.nottingham.ac.uk/school4m