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Research topics
Research topics
We investigate how molecules are transformed into materials and energy. Our research spans the science of particle kinetics, advanced carbon materials, and clean hydrogen production. By combining experiments, modeling, and simulation, we aim to understand fundamental processes and design technologies for high-value materials and a sustainable energy future.
We investigate how molecules are transformed into materials and energy. Our research spans the science of particle kinetics, advanced carbon materials, and clean hydrogen production. By combining experiments, modeling, and simulation, we aim to understand fundamental processes and design technologies for high-value materials and a sustainable energy future.
Thermochemical Energy Conversion
Thermochemical Energy Conversion
Our research focuses on designing thermal and catalytic processes to produce clean hydrogen and valuable carbon, with a primary emphasis on methane pyrolysis and related pathways. We use both experiments and simulations to understand and optimize these processes.
Energy input and pathways — examining how combustion, conductive heating, plasma, and electrified solutions shape reaction routes, product selectivity, and efficiency.
Reactor development — building and testing advanced pyrolysis and decomposition systems.
Kinetics to scale-up — integrating detailed modeling and simulations with experiments to bridge molecular processes and scalable hydrogen technologies.
Carbon Materials and Particle Kinetics
Carbon Materials and Particle Kinetics
We study the formation, evolution, and transformation of carbon particles under high-temperature conditions, linking particle kinetics to the design of graphitizable carbons, fibers, and nanotubes. Our work combines experiments with modeling to connect reactor conditions to particle morphology and structure.
Particle kinetics — modeling inception, growth, coagulation, and evolution of carbon particles.
Material pathways — understanding how reactor conditions lead to different valuable carbon materials such as graphitizable carbons, fibers, and nanotubes.
Morphology control — linking synthesis conditions to particle structure and properties.
Collaboration for applications — partnering with materials and electrochemistry groups to explore uses in energy storage and beyond.
Publications and presentations
Publications and presentations
Peer-reviwed publications
Peer-reviwed publications
[1] Selvakumar, P., Cepeda, F., Toth, F., Di Lorenzo, M., Farivar, F., Humphries, T., Paskevicius, M., Thomson, M.J., Buckley, C.E., Martin, J.W., “Gas-phase origin of microwave methane pyrolysis carbon films”, Carbon, 245, 120780, 2025. (Publication link).
[2] Öner, O., Cepeda, F., Dworkin, S.B., Karataş, A.E., “Near-infrared multi-spectral imaging with Bayer-filter color cameras: a single-exposure approach for soot and temperature diagnostics”, Applied Optics, 64, 6085-6095, 2025. (Publication link).
[3] Cepeda, F. Serwin, M., Eaves, N.A., Karataş, A.E., Dworkin, S.B., “Mechanisms of soot formation in periodically forced laminar diffusion flames”, Fuel, 398, 135510, 2025. (Publication link).
[4] Cepeda, F., Nobakht, A., Verdugo, I., Fuentes, A., Dworkin, S.B., Karataş, A.E., “The effect of pressure up to 6 atm over soot maturity in laminar ethylene flames”, Combustion and Flame, 274, 113977, 2025. (Publication link).
[5] Di Liddo, L., Cepeda, F., Saegh, G., Salakhi, M., Thomson, M.J. “Comparative Analysis of Methane and Natural Gas Pyrolysis for Low-GHG Hydrogen Production”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 84, 146-154, 2024. (Publication link).
[6] Cepeda, F., Di Liddo, L., Thomson, M.J. “Enhancing Hydrogen Production: Modelling the Role of Activated Carbon Catalyst in Methane Pyrolysis”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 83, 410-420, 2024. (Publication link).
[7] Salakhi M., Cepeda, F., Thomson, M.J. “A comprehensive kinetic study on low-GHG hydrogen production from microwave-driven methane pyrolysis”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 77, 997-1008, 2024. (Publication link).
[8] Curinao, J. Cepeda, F., Escudero, F., Dworkin, S.B., Demarco, R. “Understanding Soot Formation: A Comprehensive Analysis Using Reactive Models in Inverse Non-Premixed Flames”, Combustion and Flame, 267, 113569, 2024. (Publication link).
[9] Morán, J. Poux, A., Cepeda, F., Escudero, F., Fuentes, A., Gallen, L., Riber, E., Cuenot, B., Yon, J., “Multi-scale soot formation simulation providing detailed particle morphology in a laminar coflow diffusion flame”, Combustion and Flame, 256, 112987, 2023. (Publication link).
[10] Cepeda, F., Dworkin, S.B., Karataş, A.E., “Investigation of soot suppression by ammonia addition to laminar ethylene flames at varying pressure”, Combustion and Flame, 251, 112728, 2023. (Publication link).
[11] Cepeda, F., Di Liddo, L., Serwin, M., Karataş, A.E., Dworkin, S.B., “On the sudden reversal of soot formation by oxygen addition in DME flames”, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 39, 1997-2005, 2023. (Publication link).
[12] Cepeda, F., Demarco, R., Escudero, F., Cruz Villanueva, J.J., Carvajal, G., Fuentes, A., “Influence of the oxygen index on acoustically forced laminar ethylene non-premixed flames”, Combustion and Flame, 236, 111745, 2022. (Publication link).
[13] Khanehzar, A., Cepeda, F., Dworkin, S.B., “The influence of nitrogen and hydrogen addition/dilution on soot formation in coflow ethylene/air diffusion flames”, Fuel, 309, 122244, 2022. (Publication link).
[14] Cruz Villanueva, J.J., Figueira da Silva, L.F., Escudero, F., Cepeda, F., Elicer-Cortés, J.C., Fuentes, A., “Soot pyrometry by emission measurements at different wavelengths in laminar axisymmetric flames”, Combustion Science and Technology, 194, 1643-1660, 2022. (Publication link).
[15] Cepeda, F., Demarco, R., Escudero, F., Liu, F., Fuentes, A., “Impact of water-vapor addition to oxidizer on the thermal radiation characteristics of non-premixed laminar coflow ethylene flames under oxygen-deficient conditions”, Fire Safety Journal, 120, 103032, 2021. (Publication link).
[16] Cepeda, F., Jerez, A., Demarco, R., Liu, F., Fuentes, A., “Influence of water-vapor in oxidizer stream on the sooting behavior for laminar coflow ethylene diffusion flames”, Combustion and Flame, 210, 114-125, 2019. (Publication link).
[17] Becerra, M., Morán, J., Jerez, A., Cepeda, F., Valenzuela, M., “Wind energy potential in Chile: Assessment of a small scale wind farm for residential clients”, Energy Conversion and Management, 140, 71-90, 2017. (Publication link).
Invited seminar presentations
Invited seminar presentations
1. Cepeda, F., “Understanding Soot Formation for Cleaner Combustion: Numerical and Experimental Studies,” Seminar Talk presented at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, November 15, 2023, Madrid, Spain.
2. Cepeda, F., “Understanding Soot in Combustion: Insights from Numerical Modelling,” Seminar Talk presented at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, November 6, 2023, Barcelona, Spain.
Selected conference presentations
Selected conference presentations
1. Cepeda, F., Morán, J., Toth, F., Thomson, M.J., “Determining the carbon structures formed during methane pyrolysis using a coupled chemical kinetics, sectional, and Monte Carlo model”, Keynote speaker at the World Conference on Carbon, June 2025, Saint-Malo, France.
2. Cepeda, F., Nobili, A., Toth, F., Pelucchi, M., Faravelli, T., Thomson, M.J., “What are the primary growth pathways of carbon nanoparticles in pyrolysis reactors: HACA vs PAH adsorption?”, 13th Mediterranean Combustion Symposium, June 2025, Corfu, Greece.
3. Cepeda, F., Di Liddo, L., Mendoza, L., Thomson, M.J., “Investigating the role of non-thermal plasma discharges in microwave-driven methane pyrolysis”, Global Hydrogen Futures Conference, Cranfield, England, June 2025.
4. Cepeda, F., Eaves, N.A., M., Karataş, A.E., Dworkin, S.B., “Ammonia addition to laminar ethylene flames: characterizing soot and NOx formation at elevated pressures”, 2023 SEIC Meeting, November 2023, Zaragoza, Spain.
5. Cepeda, F., Di Liddo, L., Serwin, M., Karataş, A.E., Dworkin, S.B., “On the sudden reversal of soot formation by oxygen addition in DME flames”, 39th International Symposium on Combustion, June 2022, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
6. Cepeda, F., Di Liddo, L., Dworkin, S.B., “The role of DME addition on soot growth in premixed and non-premixed ethylene laminar flames”, 18th International Conference on Numerical Combustion, May 2022, San Diego, CA, USA.
7. Cepeda, F., Eaves, N.B., Dworkin, S.B., “Implementation of a Multi-variable Sectional Soot Model for Transient Laminar Combustion”, International Sooting Flame Workshop, January 2021, Adelaide, Australia (online).
8. Cepeda, F., Jerez, A., Demarco, R., Liu, F., Fuentes, A., “Experimental and numerical study of the impact of water-vapor addition to oxidizer on soot temperature of laminar coflow ethylene non-premixed flames”, 11th Mediterranean Combustion Symposium, June 2019, Tenerife, Spain.
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