Catalytic after-treatment of exhaust emissions from hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engines

This project will develop new heterogeneous catalysts/catalytic convertors to enable a project partner to use Green Hydrogen as a fuel in heavy good vehicles (HGVs) to meet necessary exhaust emissions legislation targets. The successful candidate will undertake a university based multi-disciplinary project in conjunction with industry, which will provide opportunities to develop a variety of skills.

Aims and objectives

Prototype catalytic converters will be prepared by combining highly active precious metal (Pd, Pt, Ni, Rh…) catalysts with novel substrates and characterised using the suite of instrumentation available at Manchester Metropolitan University (X-ray diffraction, SEM/EDAX, Raman, BET surface area analysis). Additional novelty will be introduced by the applications of both 3D printing and catalyst preparation by magnetron sputtering to increase catalyst activity. The catalytic convertors will be tested in the decomposition of the products of Hydrogen/Diesel combustion gases from an exhaust stream using a specialised testing facility. This system passes a continuous gaseous mixture over a solid catalyst where the products of reaction are measured online using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS). The set-up allows the user to study a range of parameters (temperature, gas flow rate, single versus mixed reactants) without removing the catalyst, which gives the possibility of generating a large quantity of results in a short time. Thereafter, full size catalytic converters will be prepared and tested under real engine conditions at a commercial heavy duty test cell facility in collaboration with the industrial partner. The performance of the candidate catalytic substrates will be evaluated at the test facility and benchmarked against the current industrial standards.

Specific requirements of the project

Interested candidates should have a minimum 2:1 Hons Bachelor/Masters degree in a chemistry, materials science or engineering related subject. They should be keen to learn new theoretical and experimental techniques and write papers and patents. Experience with preparation, characterisation and testing of heterogeneous catalysis would be beneficial but not essential. The project will be full-time for 36 months. The successful candidate will be required to report to, and meet with, the research partner Gerrard’s of Swinton Ltd, and may have the opportunity to spend some time visiting the industrial partner to conduct experimental tests.

Student eligibility 

Fully-funded PhD (home fees), stipend paid at UKRI rate (2022/23 rate £16,062). Expected start date October 2022.

For more details visit https://www.mmu.ac.uk/research/research-study/scholarships#ai-64302-5