GCRF START funds strategic Energy Materials Workshop - Cape Town, 16-17 December 2019 A warm South African welcome and stunning Cape Town backdrop greeted the 20 participants of the GCRF START Energy Materials Workshop, which was funded by GCRF START. The event took place from the 16-17 December 2019 and was hosted by the Catalysis Institute and c*change (DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in … Read more GCRF START funds strategic Energy Materials Workshop
Investigating Solar Energy – Examining the microstructure of Organic Solar Cells - “It’s been great having Mohamed as part of our team in Oxford. Such exchanges are essential if we want to solve global challenges like climate change. Among other benefits, they foster collaboration, create lasting networks and enrich the perspectives of everyone involved.” Prof. Dr. Moritz Riede, University of Oxford, UK Improving Organic Solar Cell performance for energy production My … Read more Investigating Solar Energy – Examining the microstructure of Organic Solar Cells
Investigating energy materials for efficient and cost effective conversion of sunlight into electricity - “Focusing on universal access to energy, increased energy efficiency and the increased use of renewable energy through new economic and job opportunities is crucial to creating more sustainable and inclusive communities and resilience to environmental issues like climate change” UN Sustainable Development Goal 7: Energy The case for localised energy generation The rising global demand … Read more Investigating energy materials for efficient and cost effective conversion of sunlight into electricity
Sustainable solutions to the energy challenge – Fast oxide ion conductors for solid oxide fuel cells - “Our vision one day is to see such fuel cells commercialised and distributed around Africa and the rest of the world, and we are excited about playing our part in developing these solutions.” Sikhumbuzo Masina, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Sustainable solutions to the energy challenge Globally and locally in Africa, we need sustainable … Read more Sustainable solutions to the energy challenge – Fast oxide ion conductors for solid oxide fuel cells
Computational modelling of catalysts for CO2 recycling and renewable fuel synthesis - “Efficient conversion of CO2 to methanol is one of the grand challenges of contemporary catalytic sciences to which Michael Higham’s work through START is making a key contribution,” Professor Richard Catlow FRS Addressing the global CO2 emissions and energy challenges Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels attributed to burning fossil fuels is a major economic and environmental issue for Africa and globally, in … Read more Computational modelling of catalysts for CO2 recycling and renewable fuel synthesis
Catalysis for the Climate Change Challenge: Iron-based alloys as catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation - “Climate change is a global challenge that does not respect national borders. It is an issue that requires solutions that need to be coordinated at the international level to help developing countries move toward a low-carbon economy.” UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 The UN Climate Panel (IPCC) calls for the elimination and reversal of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere as a … Read more Catalysis for the Climate Change Challenge: Iron-based alloys as catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation
Developing sustainable energy in Africa - There are unique challenges to developing sustainable energy in Africa. Large swathes of the population live off-grid with little access to conventional energy sources. The degradation of energy devices in an environment of heat and dust, and the high initial capital costs of traditional energy production installations or storage systems causes problems for the wider dissemination of conventional energy services. Prof. Dave Billing from the University of … Read more Developing sustainable energy in Africa
Photovoltaics at the University of Sheffield - The Electronic and Photonic Molecular Materials group at the University of Sheffield develops novel photovoltaic materials and processes to enable a new era of low-cost solar energy. Our work centres around the development of organic-inorganic metal-halide perovskites and related materials. These perovskites have shown the potential for low-temperature processed, high efficiency, printable and spray-coatable layers which could … Read more Photovoltaics at the University of Sheffield
New collaboration opportunities for computational insights into catalysis - A successful secondment by GCRF START computational scientist, Dr Michael Higham, has led to exciting new computational modelling collaborations involving leading catalysis institutes in South Africa and the UK. These opportunities range from investigating adsorption induced magnetisation changes in nickel catalysts, to research into bimetallic catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation of environmental and industrial importance in … Read more New collaboration opportunities for computational insights into catalysis
Cardiff University: Computational studies of Cu-based Catalysts for CO2 Conversion to Methanol - Image: Bent activated CO2 molecule adsorbed on two different Cu facets Methanol (CH3OH) is an attractive target molecule for carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas pollutant and contributes to global warming. With these pressures putting strain on the earth’s resources, research is needed to understand how CO2 can be removed from … Read more Cardiff University: Computational studies of Cu-based Catalysts for CO2 Conversion to Methanol
Synchrotron Techniques for African Research and Technology