Applications of nanomaterials in gas hydrates to capture and storage of gases such as CO2 and CH4.
The aim of this project is to guide the synthesis or selection of superior nanomaterials that can work in synergy with hydrates to achieve efficient gas storage and separation, and assist in carbon neutrality and energy strategies. Nanomaterials can act as promoters or inhibitors. Currently, we mainly focused on MOFs. The study of nanomaterials and gas hydrates involves a mixture of surface chemistry, adsorption science and gas hydrate research. There are some studies including the thermodynamic and kinetic effects of MOFs on CH4 and CO2 hydrates as well as an assessment of their combined ability to store CH4 and separate CO2. However, there is less literature on CO2 separation compared to CH4 storage.
The current study plan focuses on:
1. Utilizing the existing MOFs materials and equipment in the laboratory, design and conduct exploratory studies on MOF/hydrate synergetic systems. The hydrate nucleation/growth rate, and gas storage efficiency will be investigated.
2. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the impact of different MOFs pore sizes and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity/surface chemistry properties on the nucleation/growth of CO2 hydrates. The simulation results will provide microscopic insights into the experimental observations.
Main supervisor:
Nicolas von Solms
Co- supervisor:
Jyoti Shanker Pandey