My research interests focus on fundamental chemistry aspects of materials for energy storage, particularly for lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery technologies. By developing a profound understanding of the physical and chemical nature of the materials of study, specific material tailoring can be done to enhance the material electrochemical performance. We make wide use of diffraction and spectroscopic techniques to characterise our materials. This involves regular trips to central facilities outside Lancaster; e.g. Diamond synchrotron and ISIS neutron spallation source @ Oxford and ESRF @ Grenoble (France). Structural characterisation is done in parallel with battery testing, which is performed in state-of-the-art facilities in our brand new Chemistry Department. Our long-term mission is to fabricate a new generation of batteries which will outperform the existing ones to deliver higher energy density, cheaper, safer and longer-lasting.
To learn more about research opportunities contact Nuria at n.tapiaruiz@lancaster.ac.uk.
Current research interests focus on:
-Development of a new generation of positive and negative electrode materials for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries
-Solid-state batteries: Solid electrolyte fabrication; understanding of the electrode-electrolyte interface and study of materials´mechanical properties.
-Salt-water batteries
I graduated from the University of Barcelona (Spain) in 2009, having completed in my last year a 6-month project under the supervision of Prof. Duncan Gregory (School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow) within the ERASMUS framework. After this, I was granted a WestChem studentship to continue with my Ph.D. studies with Prof. Gregory. During my PhD, with thesis title “Novel synthesis and characterisation of Li-N-(H)-based materials for energy storage and conversion”, I developed ultra-fast and energy-efficient synthetic routes using microwave chemistry and tribology to produce bulk and nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion. This was followed by a short-term EU-funded postdoc on the same topic with international industrial collaborators (Paxitech and McPhy Energy and international academic collaborators (JRC (Belgium) and IEn (Poland)). During these years I gained extensive experience in a wide range of techniques such as: powder X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and Rietveld analysis; scanning and transmission electron microscopy, IR and Raman spectroscopy. In 2013 I moved to the east coast of Scotland (School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews) to work as a Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Peter Bruce in energy-storage materials for Li-ion and Na-ion battery applications. My main research efforts were directed towards developing and understanding the structure-property-electrochemical performance relationship in novel transition metal oxide cathode materials for lithium and sodium-ion batteries. In 2014, I moved with Prof. Bruce and his research group to Oxford (Materials Department, University of Oxford) to work as a Research Fellow and Team Leader of the Sodium-ion battery team. In December 2016 I moved to Lancaster University where I have been co-appointed as a Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Energy Lancaster.
PhD in Chemistry (Inorganic Solid-State and Physical Chemistry Background)
Research support
STFC
Joy Welsh Trust
EPSRC
Centre of Global Eco-Innovation
Royal Society
Innovate UK
Contact me by email (n.tapiaruiz@lancaster.ac.uk) or telephone (+44(0)1524593126)
Group website
http://www.tapiaruizgroup.com/
LinkedIn
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nuria-tapia-ruiz-339376a5
ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nuria_Tapia-Ruiz
We seek industrial partners from the UK and internationals to collaborate in the development of energy storage materials (mainly synthesis, characterisation and electrochemical testing). We offer access to a range of world-class equipment and hands-on experience coupled with knowledge and expertise. The contractual and financial arrangements are managed by our Business Partnerships and Enterprise Team, typically via our Business Partnerships Managers.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries/business opportunities that might suit us both.
