4.1
Energy and gas storage
Keywords
Clathrate, dry water, methane, gas storage,
gas transport
Expertise
Methane gas clathrate (or methane gas hydrate, MGH)
is a naturally-occurring solid material which forms when
methane and water come into contact at low temperature
and moderate pressure. Naturally occurring MGH is a
potentially valuable – and highly transportable – source of
natural gas; its high energy density is ideal for methane
storage and transport. However, a major drawback is the
time it takes for MGH to form: this may be in the order of
days for methane contacting bulk water.
We have shown that so-called ‘dry water’ (a blend of
water and silica nanoparticles) can greatly increase the
formation of MGH because dry water has a much higher
surface area to interact with the methane gas.
We have extended our expertise in MGH production and
developed a reversible ‘dry gel’ that can store and release
methane over multiple cycles with no loss of efficiency.
The gel could be used for bulk storage and transport of
natural gas and could be used to make the exploitation of
stranded gas reserves commercially viable.
Capabilities and facilities
•
High pressure facilities for clathration experiments,
MGH production and handling (including
temperature control on a small scale)
• ‘
Dry water’ and ‘dry gel’ production for gas capture
and storage.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Stephenson Institute of Renewable Energy.
4.2
Batteries and supercapacitors
Keywords
Lithium-ion, metal-air, in situ spectroscopy, battery
ageing, supercapacitors
Expertise
Renewable energy sources, especially wind and solar
generation, cannot respond to the peaks and troughs of
demand. Energy efficiency measures must also develop
better ways to store energy in new generation batteries
and supercapacitors.
The University of Liverpool has built up significant
knowledge on the behaviour of lithium-ion batteries,
especially the degradation and ageing that means they
become inefficient over time. We are also developing
new high energy storage battery technologies, such as
lithium-air.
Improvements to existing battery systems and the testing
of new components and chemistries for energy storage
should find widespread application in consumer electronics,
electric vehicles and stationary power back-up.
Expertise includes
•
Li-ion battery electrode degradation mechanisms
•
Lithium diffusion pathways through carbon and
the chemical and electrochemical processes in
Li-air cells
•
New electrochemical energy storage chemistries
for consumer electronics, electric vehicles and
stationary power back-up
•
Experience of studying the oxygen reduction reaction
and the oxygen evolution reaction in non-aqueous
solvents in the context of metal-oxygen batteries
•
Use of Raman and infrared spectroscopy in the
investigation of side reaction product formation.
•
Application of
in situ
Raman techniques to investigate
Li-ion batteries and electrochemical double layer
supercapacitors
•
Demonstration that discrete crystal structural
changes can be followed even when only small
concentrations of ions are inserted into nano-materials
•
Cell assembly and working in dry-box environments
•
Electrochemical testing and spectroscopic
characterisation of novel battery components:
anode, cathode, electrolyte, separator etc.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Stephenson Institute of Renewable Energy.
Energy & Sustainability
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4.
Carbon capture and storage
APPLICATION AREAS
•
Aerospace and automotive
•
Energy
•
Electronics and electrical systems
•
High value manufacturing
•
Nanotechnology and advanced materials
•
Sustainability
•
Transport and infrastructure
