The EPSRC Triboelectrification Grant Application Gets Approved
We are delighted to share the exciting news that our EPSRC Triboelectrification grant application (EP/X023389/1) has been approved! This is a significant support and a testament to the ground-breaking research we have been conducting in this field.
Mojtaba Ghadiri FREng, CEng, FIChemE
Professor of Chemical Engineering
Triboelectrification, the phenomenon of electric charge transfer through friction, is responsible from the seemingly innocuous electric shocks on escalators to the small sparks observed when removing woolly jumpers in low humidity environments, to serious fire and explosion hazards in the manufacturing industry. It has long intrigued scientists and posed serious challenges in various industrial operations, but it has also been used to good effect in several applications, including the rapidly developing field of Tribo-Electric Nano-Generators (TENG).
Our programme encompasses seven comprehensive work packages and will delve into this subject in great depth, from atomic scale to industrial applications, providing valuable insights and mitigating potential risks. The first stage of our research will involve atomic investigations using Density Functional Theory, led by Andrew Scott. This will lay the foundation for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of triboelectrification. Simon Connell and Jerry Heng, from the Physics School and Imperial College London respectively, will contribute their expertise in surface characterisation using Kelvin Probe Microscopy and contact potential measurements, providing crucial experimental data.
Another key aspect of our project is the development of Tribo-Electric Nano-Generators, spearheaded by Mike Bryant from the Mechanical Engineering School. This technology holds immense potential for energy harvesting applications and will be a significant contribution to the field.
Furthermore, our team, comprising Xiaodong Jia, Wei Pin Goh, and Mojtaba Ghadiri, will focus on the measurement and modelling of charge distribution resulting from aerodynamic dispersion, handling and conveying, and fluid bed operations. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of charge distribution and the use of antistatic agents to reduce the charge level will play a vital role in enhancing reliable and safe manufacturing operations.
We are thrilled to announce that we have industrial collaboration with seven companies: AstraZeneca, Pfizer, AbbVie, LyondellBasell, Malvern Panalytical, Freeman Technology, and Fluid Comp. The programme has also attracted collaboration from five international academic institutions (Professors Thiago Burgo, University of Santa Maria, Brazil, Alberto Di Renzo and Francesco Di Maio, University of Calabria, Italy, Poupak Mehrani, University of Ottawa, Canada, Tatsushi Matsuyama, Soka University, Japan, and Dr Wenguang Nan, Nanjing Tech University, China).
As we embark on this exciting journey, we hope to make a lasting impact in the field of triboelectrification to enhance safety, reliability and efficiency of various industrial applications from a fundamental scientific basis.