Scaling up next generation immortal catalysts for transforming the chemical industry

nearmejobs.eu

Natural gas it is an abundant and versatile energy source, helping meet growing demand for energy globally. Up to 50% of natural gas is being used as feedstock for chemical synthesis of many important base chemicals such as ammonia and methanol. Nevertheless, in light of rising global geopolitical challenges and amid rising concerns over energy security, governments around the world are moving to strengthen their energy security through new strategies committing to support alternative to oil and gas energy projects. The utilisation of biogas as an alternative clean, renewable energy source to replace natural gas holds great promise but it is still limited as well as the potential to use biogas as feedstock for chemical synthesis is largely unexplored. One of the technological challenges limiting the wider use of biogas is the requirement of expensive noble-metal catalysts for the chemical conversion, rendering large scale processes economically unviable.

Recently, a new class of low-cost base-metal catalysts has been developed through a novel synthesis method known as “exsolution”^1,2. The process enables the formation of base-metal nanoparticles partially embedded in the supporting matrix a feature that seems to unlock exceptional stability and supreme catalytic activity compared to conventional base-metal catalysts and making them a potential replacement for noble-metal catalysts. However, this novel method of synthesis has only been produced in a small, laboratory scale.

The proposed project aims to build on this new concept of material synthesis and develop suitable methods for scale up so that such advanced catalysts can be used in industrial scale processes such as biogas utilisation for chemical synthesis in the near future.

The successful candidate will become a member of the Materials, Concepts, and Reaction Engineering Group within the School of Engineering³. Our group is inherently multi-disciplinary, across chemical engineering, chemistry, and materials science. We actively promote a collaborative and supportive environment and have a large network of national and international collaborators. Our previous group members work in leading companies, hold prestigious research fellowships, and have started their own research groups. If you select to work with us, we will support you to reach your goals. We particularly encourage applications from groups that are currently underrepresented in academia, such as members of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

Newcastle University is committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent.