How can the Hydrogen Economy be delivered?

This project is part of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Fuel Cells and their Fuels which is a collaborative project between University of Birmingham, University of Nottingham, Loughborough University, UCL and Imperial College London. This particular research post will be predominantly based at University of Nottingham.

Metal-organic frameworks for hydrogen storage and proton conductivity: Reactions of appropriate combinations of bridging ligands and metal cations and clusters afford metal-organic framework (MOF) materials that can show permanent porosity and gas storage capabilities. These highly novel porous materials are generally prepared via solvothermal or hydrothermal synthesis, and, depending upon the design features of the linkers, nodes and counter-anions and co-ligands, various topologies and levels of porosity can be achieved (Figure 1). Our aim is to prepare porous materials that will act as efficient stores for hydrogen and to develop functional materials that will show gas selectivity and discrimination, and will incorporate functional groups to allow catalysis of hydrogen oxidation and proton conductivity through channels. The project will involve the synthesis and characterization of new MOF materials and their study and analysis. We seek to develop more efficient synthetic routes to these materials using near critical solvents and microwave methods (with engineering colleagues), and to develop materials via the use of new linkers and cluster nodes that show enhanced capacities and special properties for substrate capture and purification.

Hydrogen production and oxidation using [NiFe] hydrogenase mimics: The active site of [NiFe] hydrogenase, a metalloenzyme which catalyses interconversion of H2 and H+ as a fuel source in bacteria, incorporates a highly unusual binuclear dithiolate-bridged NiFe centre. We have prepared complexes that mimic the structural, electronic and catalytic properties of this active site with the aim of producing catalysts for the photo-production of H2 from water. The project will involve the design, synthesis and study of new metal complexes that can reduce protons to H2. A particular target will be to synthesise redox active and stable derivatives of our active NiFe2 complexes (Figure 2) that can be coupled to suitable proton relays and photo-sensitisers to act as active catalysts for photo-induced H2 production.