Introductory description

Energy efficiency is becoming ever more important as we seek to mitigate the effects and extent of global warming. While solar and wind generation are obvious replacements to traditional fossil fuel energy sources, there are a wealth of material technologies that can offer substantial advantages in terms of energy management. While it is unlikely that any single material can offer significant efficiency improvements, a sum of their parts could have a profound impact on how we manage energy in the future. Therefore in this module we will examine how a combination of materials technology can offer solutions to enhance energy storage, generation, deployment and even directionality. While we will explore more traditional materials for harvesting and storing energy (e.g. silicon/perovskite photovoltaics, lithium/sodium ion batteries), more emphasise will focus on the design, fabrication and deployment of metamaterials, a class of material that has been engineered to have properties that go beyond any material found in nature (e.g. cloaking).

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The following outlines a brief overview of the syllabus.

1. Energy: past & present
2. Identifying the problems
3. Conventional materials for sustainable energy
   i. Generation
   ii. Storage
   iii. Harvesting
4. Metamaterials for sustainable energy
   i. Generation
   ii. Storage
   iii. Harvesting
5. Designing materials for sustainable energy
6. Manufacturing materials
7. Deploying, controlling and maintaining materials
8. End of life and recycling

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Apply engineering principles, which include mathematics, statistics and natural science knowledge, to complex problems involving sustainable materials for energy generation and storage. [C1, M1]
• Analyse and evaluate the performance of materials for sustainable energy applications, and thus apply engineering principles and judgment to discuss limitations of the technology in the context of efficiency and sustainability. [C2, M2]
• Develop an ability to read technical papers/journals, and be able to critically evaluate the literature in order to derive new approaches for improving efficiency for any given materials technology, while also considering sustainability. [C4, M4]
• Be able to evaluate the environment and societal impacts for new materials technology. [C7, M7]
• Be able to select and apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes to solve energy generation and storage problems for any given location, while considering their limitations. [C13, M13]
• Knowledge and understand of quality management, continuous improvement and control. [C14, M14]
• Ability to communicate effectively on materials technology using technical and non-technical language. [C17, M17]

Indicative reading list

(1) S. J. Dhoble, N. T Kalyani, B. Vengadaesvaran and A. K. Arof, 2021, Energy Materials: Fundamentals to Applications, Elsevier Science Publishing Co Inc, ISBN 9780128237106

(2) D. Sabba, 2018, Metamaterials and their Applications, Arcler Press, ISBN 9781773610535

(3) Y. Jaluria, 2018, Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing, Springer International Publishing A&G, ISBN 9783319769820

Subject specific skills

1. Plan and manage the design process, including cost drivers, evaluating outcomes, and working with technical uncertainty
2. Knowledge and understanding of the need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in engineering and the use of technical literature, other information sources including appropriate codes of practice and industry standards
3. Knowledge and understanding of risk issues, including health & safety, environmental and commercial risk, risk assessment and risk management techniques and an ability to evaluate commercial risk
4. Knowledge of professional codes of conduct, how ethical dilemmas can arise, relevant legal and contractual issues.

Transferable skills

1. Numeracy: apply mathematical and computational methods to communicate parameters, model and optimize solutions
2. Apply problem solving skills, information retrieval, and the effective use of general IT facilities
3. Communicate (written and oral; to technical and non-technical audiences) and work with others
4. Plan self-learning and improve performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD
5. Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including time management, which may be as a team member or leader
6. Awareness of the nature of business and enterprise in the creation of economic and social value
7. Overcome difficulties by employing skills, knowledge and understanding in a flexible manner
8. Ability to formulate and operate within appropriate codes of conduct, when faced with an ethical issue
9. Appreciation of the global dimensions of engineering, commerce and communication
10. Be professional in their outlook, be capable of team working, be effective communicators, and be able to exercise responsibility and sound management approaches.