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Alexander Cowan

Professor Alexander Cowan
MSci, PhD, FHEA, FRSC

Contact

A.J.Cowan@liverpool.ac.uk

Cowan Group website

+44 (0)151 794 3481

Research

Our laboratory studies the sustainable production of chemicals and fuels from abundant, and ideally waste, resources such as CO2, H2O, N2. Our approach is to develop a detailed understanding of the factors controlling photo- and electrochemical reactions through the use of advanced (non-linear and transient) spectroscopic studies. We then apply the design rules identified in the next generation of catalytic materials and work with partners from industry and academia to realise real-world impact.

Research grants

High throughput investigation of Ni-Fe alloys for Hydrogen evolution reaction

NUOVO PIGNONE TECNOLOGIE S.R.L (ITALY)

August 2024 - April 2025

CapCon - conversion of captured carbon dioxide

IDRIC

August 2023 - February 2024

The Solar Chemicals Network

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

July 2023 - June 2026

Zero-Chem: Zerogap bipolar membrane electrolyser for CO2 reduction to chemicals & fuels

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

October 2022 - September 2024

Water dissociation interfaces for high current density bipolar membrane electrolysers

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

November 2022 - May 2024

Materials for End-to-End Hydrogen Application

HENRY ROYCE INSTITUTE (UK)

December 2021 - March 2022

National Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Chemical Economy (NIC3E)

UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

January 2021 - March 2025

Autonomous Mobile Robot Chemists

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

October 2020 - March 2024

Quantitative Imaging of Multi-Scale Dynamic Phenomena at Electrochemical Interfaces

THE FARADAY INSTITUTION (UK)

July 2019 - March 2022

EPSRC Capital Award emphasising support for ECRS

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

October 2018 - March 2020

Gel-based Photoelectrodes for Clean Fuels

LEVERHULME TRUST (UK)

October 2018 - June 2022

SEAFUEL

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

December 2017 - July 2023

CO2 reduction at high pressures

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

October 2016 - March 2017

Flexible Routes to Liquid Fuels from CO2 by Advanced Catalysis and Engineering

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

March 2016 - September 2021

Spectroscopy-driven design of an efficient photocatalyst for carbon dioxide reduction

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

January 2013 - September 2021

Vibrational spectroscopy of semiconductor photocatalysts: Developing design rules for efficient solar fuel production.

ROYAL SOCIETY (CHARITABLE)

October 2012 - April 2013

Kerr-gated Raman for the Characterisation of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase layer on Battery Electrodes

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL

July 2017 - February 2018

Multicomponent Supramolecular Hydrogels - Dr Laura Mears

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

October 2016 - February 2018

Small items of Research Equipment at the University of Liverpool

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

November 2012 - March 2013

Leverhulme Research Centre for Functional Materials Design

LEVERHULME TRUST (UK)

October 2016 - March 2027