Top
Skip to Content
LOGO(small) - Queen's University Belfast
  • Our facebook
  • Our x-twitter
LOGO(large) - Queen's University Belfast

School of

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

  • Home
  • Study
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate Taught
    • Postgraduate Research
  • Research
    • Research Environment
    • Research Centres
    • Research Impact
    • Spin-Out Companies
    • Researcher Spotlight
    • Postgraduate Research
    • Research Seminars and Events
  • Our School
    • Discover
    • Facilities
    • Staff
    • Athena SWAN
    • Key contacts
  • Work Experience
  • CCE Reunion 2025
  • Home
  • Study
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate Taught
    • Postgraduate Research
  • Research
    • Research Environment
    • Research Centres
    • Research Impact
    • Spin-Out Companies
    • Researcher Spotlight
    • Postgraduate Research
    • Research Seminars and Events
  • Our School
    • Discover
    • Facilities
    • Staff
    • Athena SWAN
    • Key contacts
  • Work Experience
  • CCE Reunion 2025
  • Our facebook
  • Our x-twitter
In This Section
  • About QUILL
  • Academic Members
  • Researchers
  • QUILL Industrial Partners
  • Current Projects
  • Publications
  • Impact
  • News
  • Opportunities
  • Industrial Advisory Board
  • Contact Us
  • QUILL in pictures

  • Home
  • School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
  • Research
  • QUILL
  • TestSection

TestSection

A bank of batteries
Prof. John Holbrey and Prof. Peter Nockemann
Greening Solvate Ionic Liquid Battery Electrolytes with Bio-Derived Ethers

Ether-based electrolytes (glymes) have been investigated as solvents for lithium-air batteries (LABs) with the potential for large-scale energy storage because their theoretical specific energy density is ca. nine times greater than that of conventional lithium-ion batteries (Nat Mater, 2011, 11, 19). 

Moreover concentrated solutions of lithium salts with glymes can form highly coordinated liquid complexes that contain only low concentrations of free glyme and can be considered as solvate ionic liquids (J Phys Chem C, 2015, 119, 3957; ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2017, 9, 6014) inheriting many useful characteristics of conventional ionic liquids (reduced vapour pressure, high thermal stability, wide electrochemical potentials).

This project will complete studies on novel glycerol-derived polyethers that are (i) non-toxic and biodegradable (in contrast to glymes that can induce reproductive toxicity) and (ii) derived from waste bio-resources (cf industrial glyme production from dimethylether and ethylene oxide).  The research will include optimisation of an ionic liquid catalysed procedure for synthesis of new glycerol-glymes, and investigation of their phase behaviour in mixtures with lithium bistrifylimide to examine the potential formation of highly conductive concentrated electrolyte solutions and new solvate ionic liquids using DSC, rheometry, conductivity and linear sweep voltametry.

 

Project Duration: 12 weeks, from July to September (indicative).

 

 

 

Read more Read less

The QUILL Research Centre now offers a range of paid summer research internships within QUILL research groups.

 

Successful applicants will work in research labs, supervised and trained by PhD students or PDRAs on daily basis, and will contribute to ongoing research within QUILL. In September, they will have the opportunity to present their research to QUILL researchers and industrial partners.

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications to any of the Summer Studentship projects outlined below is Friday the 4th of June 2021.

Project Suitability

The projects detailed below are suitable for chemists and/or chemical engineers, depending on the project. Students who will be undertaking Levels 3 or 4 of their degree course in October 2021 are encouraged to apply, in addition to those students who have just completed their undergraduate studies.

Project Details

Please see the information below in relation to each of the available projects.

Vials containing liquid
Dr Gosia Swadźba-Kwaśny
Liquid Coordination Complexes

Liquid coordination complexes (LCCs) are – as the name suggests – coordination complexes with melting points below room temperature, also known as ionic liquid analogues.1,2 As liquids with very high metal concentrations, they are used primarily for electrodepositions and in catalysis, especially in Lewis acid catalysis, but have the potential to be used as precursors for the synthesis of inorganic materials.

Structural information about “traditional”, crystalline coordination complexes is typically obtained from single crystal XRD. This source of information is not available for LCCs, therefore the liquid-phase speciation is elucidated by combining several spectroscopic techniques, such as Raman and NMR spectroscopies (Figure 1), but also more advanced techniques, such as EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure). Furthermore, in contrast to solid phase, in the liquid there are often not one, but several species in a dynamic equilibrium with each other, which further complicates the characterisation.

Research data (see figure caption)

Figure 1. Speciation of liquid coordination complexes based on aluminium and gallium.

In this work, the focus will be on the development and characterisation of entirely new liquid coordination complexes with non-chloride ligands, and the measurement of their Lewis acidity and physico-chemical properties. There will be ample opportunities to train and practice lab skills, especially inorganic synthesis (including air-sensitive synthesis using Schlenk techniques and glovebox) and analytical techniques (NMR, Raman and FT-IR spectroscopies, in addition to differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis).

 

Project Duration: 12 weeks, from July to September (indicative).

 

 

Read more Read less

NMR samples
Dr Leila Moura
NMR as a Tool for Sensing Gas-Liquid Interactions

This project aims to determine the potential of NMR to sense the environment felt by CO2 and small hydrocarbons in ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DES).

This project is part of the Moura’s group focus of developing Liquid Engineering for Gas Separation (LEGS). We aim to develop strategies for gas separations from mixed feeds using absorbents based in ILs and DES.

The first aim of this project is to perform 1H, 13C and 2D NMR of solutes such as CO2 and small hydrocarbons (gases and liquids such as CH4, ethane, ethene, hexane, hexene) in a variety of common laboratory solvents. These small molecules will serve as probes of the liquid environment. Since the solvents have different environments in terms of polarity, hydrogen bond ability and basicity they will provide a calibration for the chemical shifts expected for the “probes”.

The same experiments will then be performed with the probe molecules in a variety of ILs and DES. By comparison with the calibration, we aim to understand better the environment felt by each solute in the ILs and DES.

This understanding will help us with the second aim of this project, the design, synthesis and testing of ILs and DES that promote stronger interactions between the gas and the liquid phase.

This work will help validate NMR and the use of small molecules as NMR probes as tools for the understanding of the liquid environment and interactions in ILs and DES.

 

Project Duration: up to 12 weeks, between June and August.

 

 

Read more Read less

Water droplets
Dr Marijana Blesic and Prof. John Holbrey
Solving the Structure of Molten Salt Hydrate/Solvate Deep Eutectic Liquids

Molten salt hydrates and organic deep eutectic solvents form two parallel series of novel liquids that are under renewed interest and evaluation for applications from solvents for chemistry, through thermal fluids, to electrolytes and biomass solvents. Inorganic salt hydrate/urea binary eutectics conceptually bridge between molten inorganic salt hydrates (Soper and Dougan, Nature Commun, 2017, 8, 919) and organic salt deep eutectic solvents (PCCP, 2019, 21, 21782; J. Chem. Phys., 2018, 148, 193823, Green Chem., 2016, 18, 2736). Indeed, the sodium acetate trihydrate/urea (SAT-urea) system has been used as a benign solvent to conduct Biginelli condensation reactions (Navarro et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 65355).

There are opportunities to unlock and obtain fine control to tune the behaviour and properties of inorganic salt hydrate/solvate eutectics through selection of the appropriate solvate donor components. This project will build on, and complete studies initiated originally as a L4 research project in 2020/21 on the influence of changing the degree of hydrogen-bond sites available in the solvate donors of SAT-urea eutectics by systematically replacing urea N-H groups with N-alkyl functions, to complete detailed thermophysical characterisation of the phase behaviour of these new SAT/functional-urea mixtures using differential scanning calorimetry and polarising optical microscopy in the laboratory, and also studying the liquid structure of the SAT/urea eutectic using Empirical Potential Structure Refinement (EPSR) modelling with experimental neutron scattering data that is due for collection at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source in May 2021 giving insight into potential competition between urea and water as hydrogen-bonding components in the molten mixed hydrate/solvate eutectics.

 

Project Duration: 12 weeks, from July to September (indicative).

 

 

 

Read more Read less

Dr Nancy Artioli
Ionic Liquid Precursors for Nanocatalysts Preparation for the Direct Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to DME

Our project aims to develop a sustainable clean technology for the generation of a carbon neutral dimethyl ether (DME) as a transport fuel, from renewable CO2 produced as a waste in biogas AD plants and from renewable hydrogen obtained through electrolysis from otherwise curtailed wind farms. This route involves the catalytic conversion of CO2 and hydrogen directly to DME. The novel technology requires the design and development of a modular reactor and an optimised hybrid nanocatalyst for the synthesis of DME.

The novelty of our approach is the use of hybrid nanocatalysts, which allow for the efficient one-step CO2 hydrogenation to DME by combining the methanol synthesis with the de-hydration in a single reactor. This approach represents a breakthrough over the conventional two-step process, leading to a higher conversion of the CO2 and a significantly simplified process.

DME is considered a “future fuel”, particularly as a diesel substitute. DME has a high cetane number of 55 similar to that of diesel fuel from petroleum (40–53), then only moderate modifications are needed to convert a diesel engine to burn dimethyl ether. In comparison to other synthetic fuels, DME has a very high thermal efficiency, equivalent to that of traditional fuels. It also does not emit sulphur oxides or soot; and there is a considerable reduction of nitrous oxides in the exhaust gases. DME can be used as fuel for diesel engines, for running turbines in a power generation facility and as H2 carrier for electric vehicles with a direct DME fuel cell (DDMEFC). As such, DME is placed to become an important next-generation clean fuel and will contribute to the effective management of energy resources in the future. Dimethyl ether is used widely in the chemical industry and established storage and distribution infrastructure can easily be adapted.

 

Project Duration: 12 weeks, from June to August.

 

 

 

Read more Read less

Prof Peter Nockemann
Sustainable Recovery of Battery Metals with Ionic Liquids

The amount of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has increased dramatically in recent years, and the development of a sustainable recycling process for spent lithium-ion batteries is necessary and urgent in terms of environmental protection and resource savings. Spent LIBs contain heavy metal elements, such as cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) which are classified as carcinogenic and mutagenic materials, as well as toxic organic electrolytes.

Lithium (Li) mining requires high energy, and water consuming processing. Therefore, from both economic and environmental perspectives, recycling of spent LIBs is worthwhile (see Figure 1), considering the need for a sustainable use of these resources.

Diagram indicating battery components

Figure 1. Components of a lithium-ion battery given as approximate average mass percentages.

While most previously reported processes mainly focus on recovering valuable metals such as cobalt and nickel via hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes, these processes are not necessarily sustainable. In this project, we envisage the development of a strategy for a novel clean, highly efficient, low cost, and pollution-free recycling process for LIBs, involving ‘green’ leaching and solvometallurgical refinement processes using ionic liquids. These ILs have a great potential for selective high-tech metal extraction, separation and processing to create greener and environmentally benign solvents to achieve significant process intensification.

 

Project Duration: 12 weeks, from July to September (indicative).

 

 

 

Read more Read less

Senior Research Fellows

NAME

PI

PROJECT SCOPE

Dr Nimal Gunaratne

Nockemann

Redox flow batteries

Attendees at the March 2019 QUILL Meeting

Academics, researchers, IAB members and industrial guests at the March 2019 QUILL Meeting.

NAME

PI

PROJECT SCOPE

Haris Amir

Hobrey/Swadźba-Kwaśny

Hydrophobic, non-coordinating anions for ionic liquids 

Dominic Burns

Hobrey/Swadźba-Kwaśny/Nockemann

Water purification with ionic liquids

Anthony Dodd

Nockemann

Rare earth metal separation

Andrew Forde

Glover/Nockemann

Thermal management of batteries for electric vehicles

Oisin Hamill

Artioli

Ceria catalyst for after-treatment technologies

Edwin Harvey

Glover/Nockemann/Istrate

Design and manufacturing of 3D-printable nanocomposite materials for renewable energy applications

Aloisia King

Holbrey

Ionic liquid frustrated lewis pairs

Oguzhan Cakir

Nockemann

Magneto-structural properties of boron-containing rare-earth magnets synthesised through ionic liquid pathways

Poh Gaik Law (Jenny)

Holbrey/Blesic/Swadźba-Kwaśny

Petronas research programme

Sanskrita Madhukailya

Moura/Holbrey

Supported ionic liquid catalysts for the synthesis of 5-substituted tetrazoles

David McAreavey

Glover/Nockemann/Istrate

Design and development of effective and interconnected fire suppression systems for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicle

Sam McCalmont

Moura

Chemisorbent materials for olefin/paraffin separation

Emma McCrea

Swadźba-Kwaśny

Valorisation of waste plastics

Anne McGrogan

Swadźba-Kwaśny

Frustrated Lewis pairs in ionic liquids

Shannon McLaughlin

Swadźba-Kwaśny/Holbrey/Artioli

New cations for Lewis acidic ionic liquids 

Esther McKee

Nockemann

Modelling and Simulation for the Extractive Separation of Rare Earth Elements: Predicting Performance and Pathways

Beth Murray

Swadźba-Kwaśny/Holbrey

Liquid Coordination Complexes for the Synthesis of Semiconductor Nanoparticles

Hugh O’Connor

Nockemann

Redox flow batteries

Liam O'Connor

Istrate

3D printed polymer graphene nanocomposites for biosensor application

Scott Place

Kavanagh

Copper-based electrocatalysts for energy applications and sensing

Junzhe Quan

Holbrey

Desalination using LCST forming ionic liquid/water mixtures

Nasri Shafie

Swadźba-Kwaśny/James

Petronas research programme

Richard Woodfield

Glover/Nockemann

Redox flow batteries

Fadhli Wong

Rooney

Petronas Research Programme

Sharizal Wong

Holbrey/Rooney

Petronas Research Programme

Suriani Yaakob

Swadźba-Kwaśny/Artioli/Holbrey

Petronas Research Programme

Farah F Yasin

Swadźba-Kwaśny/Holbrey

Petronas Research Programme

Mark Young

Moura

Gas separation technologies

Ashraf Zawawi

Holbrey/Rooney

Petronas Research Programme

 

QUILL 25th anniversary
For more details follow this link
QUILL
  • QUILL
  • About QUILL
  • Academic Members
  • Researchers
  • QUILL Industrial Partners
  • Current Projects
  • Publications
  • Impact
  • News
  • Opportunities
  • Industrial Advisory Board
  • Contact Us
  • QUILL in pictures
QUB Logo
Contact Us

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

David Keir Building
Stranmillis Road
Belfast
Northern Ireland
BT9 5AG

GET DIRECTIONS

Tel:+44 (0)28 9097 5418
Fax: +44 (0)28 9097 6524
E-mail: candce@qub.ac.uk

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Study
  • Careers
  • Research

 

© Queen's University Belfast 2024
  • Privacy and cookies
  • Website accessibility
  • Freedom of information
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • University Policies and Procedures
Information
  • Privacy and cookies
  • Website accessibility
  • Freedom of information
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • University Policies and Procedures

© Queen's University Belfast 2024

Manage cookies