Dr Neil Robinson works at the forefront of energy and materials research, where he focuses on a critical family of materials called porous materials. As the name suggests, these materials contain small pores, voids and channels that dictate their properties. They have a wide variety of applications in chemical engineering and energy systems, including the separation and storage of useful gases, and in helping to produce low-carbon fuels. While these materials are employed globally to support both our energy economy and decarbonisation efforts, critical knowledge gaps remain regarding how gases and liquids really behave inside such structures – this knowledge is important in designing new and improved materials that can be optimised for a particular process.
Neil’s research targets new developments in measurement technology to help bridge this knowledge gap. His work is largely based on the application of magnetic resonance measurements, which are similar to medical MRI, and these approaches are now underpinning detailed characterisation efforts to help understand gas and liquid behaviour in porous materials under high temperature and pressure conditions of direct relevance to important industrial processes.
2024