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| Cambridge University > Materials Science > About > Staff | |
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Sustainability, Sensors and Nanostructures Our motivation is to apply materials chemistry to problems that are scientifically interesting and technologically challenging. Reduction of metal oxides A novel electrochemical method is being investigated for the reduction of metal oxides where the metal oxide or mixture of metal oxides is the cathode in a bath of molten calcium chloride. The oxygen ionizes, dissolves in the electrolyte, and is discharged at the anode. This process has also being considered by NASA for the production of oxygen on the moon from the moon regolith. Two companies have been set up to exploit this technology. Development of sensors It is important to be able to instantaneously measure species in gases, liquids and solids. Sensors, based upon solid electrolytes have been developed to measure hydrogen in molten aluminium, hydrogen in steel and SOx from power stations. Ion Science Ltd and Environmental Monitoring and Control Ltd have been set up to market these devices. Nanostructures Carbon and sulfide nanotubes are being synthesized by novel routes. These interesting materials are being investigated as electrodes in supercapacitors and batteries. Recycling The world has finite resources and it is important to be able to recycle
waste products. Processes for treating galvanized scrap, batteries and
electronic scrap have been devised and are now being developed industrially.
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