Sustainable Hydrogen Innovation and Technology
In my previous article I explained how a ‘convolution integral’ can be used to simulate a constant phase element (abbreviation ‘CPE’, symbol ‘Q’) in the time domain. This is useful, but there is much more to this simple element than meets the eye. Specifically, when combined with a series resistance to form a very basic … Read more The mysterious case of the CPE
In electrochemistry it is common to come across behaviour that can only be modelled using a constant phase element (CPE). For example, a measurement taken using electroimpedance spectoscopy (EIS) often produces a flattened or depressed semi-circle on a Nyquist plot. This indicates that a form of capacitance is present (coupled with a resistance), but it … Read more Constant Phase Elements
The UK Government has announced that the date from which the sales of all new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be banned is being brought forward by 5 years, from 2040 to 2035. This is good news, but not particularly surprising, since the government has also committed to being carbon neutral by 2050. … Read more UK new car ban extended to include hybrids
It is with great sadness that their time is Swansea has come to an end but all good things must and all that… Jacobina and Theopolina came to Swansea in search of some lab-based research guidance to help with their PhD studies in Namibia. This is part of the Chem4Energy programme and my trip to … Read more Farewell dinner for Theopolina and Jacobina
November the 27th 2019 we went to see the Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm operated by our collaborators in Innogy. Was a fantastic day out and really insightful to see how the turbines work up close and personal.
The BBC this morning has news of a the UK’s first hydrogen train. This is interesting news, but what’s more interesting is that this is being driven by the UK government’s commitment to phasing out diesel-only trains within the next 20 years. This could end up having a profound effect on hydrogen powered transport of … Read more UK Hydrogen Trains
We helped out a team of undergrads with cutting their plane on our laser cutter. Well done to them as it looks amazing. https://dunnill.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/video-1554292467.mp4
Okay. Hands up everyone who is prepared to give up flying for the rest of their lives? Hmmm. Not very many of you? Now keep your hand raised if you are also prepared to give up driving… …and heating your home… …or buying anything from a shop, or a restaurant, or online. No-one? Well, I … Read more Changing Fuels
Charles W. Dunnill, Swansea University and Joseph C Bear, UCL What has chemistry ever done for me, you might ask? Just as Dustin Hoffman was told by one of his would-be mentors in The Graduate, one answer is plastics – one of the greatest chemical innovations of the 20th century. Most plastic items are made … Read more Plastics of the future may be made from sulfur, not oil, putting waste to good use
Charles W. Dunnill, Swansea University and Robert Phillips, Swansea University Researchers led by NASA’s former chief technologist are hoping to launch a satellite carrying water as the source of its fuel. The team from Cornell University, guided by Mason Peck, want their device to become the first shoebox-sized “CubeSat” to orbit the moon, while demonstrating … Read more Making space rocket fuel from water could drive a power revolution on Earth