Professor

Tom Rufford

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54165

Background

Biography:

Tom Rufford is an Associate Professor in the UQ School of Chemical Engineering and chief investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of CO2 (GETCO2). Tom completed his BE and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland in 2000 and 2009, respectively. Tom’s PhD thesis investigated the use of porous carbon materials derived from waste coffee grounds for energy storage via hydrogen or supercapacitors on board electric vehicles. From 2001 to 2005 he worked as a process engineer and technologist on the crude distillation columns, naptha reformers and hydrogen purification plant at Shell’s Geelong Oil Refinery. From 2010 to late 2012, Tom was a research fellow at the University of Western Australia working on natural gas processing and LNG production research projects with the UWA’s Chevron Chair in Gas Process Engineering, Prof. Eric May. He returned to UQ as a teaching and research academic in December 2012.

Dr Rufford is a chartered member of the IChemE and Engineers Australia (chemical engineering).

Dr Rufford has published more than 80 scientific papers in international journals and an edited book on carbon materials. He has been a visiting researcher at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Tsukuba, Japan, and an Endeavour Research Fellow visiting the Institute of Metals Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shenyang, China.

Research:

Associate Professor Rufford conducts research on gas processing and purification for cleaner energy production and utilization. His research interests include electrochemical processes including energy storage and CO2 reduction, natural gas process engineering, porous carbons, and solid-fluid interactions in coal seam gas reservoirs. Current and recent projects include studies on electrochemical CO2 reduction, development of gas diffusion electrode materials, helium recovery and nitrogen rejection from natural gas, low permeability coals, and the capture of methane emissions from liquefied natural gas (LNG) production plants.

Teaching and Learning:

Tom teaches into the BE and BE/ME chemical engineering programs at UQ. He's taught core chemical engineering courses such as heat and mass transfer, unit operations, and the capstone design project courses CHEE4001 and CHEE7103. In 2024 he is teaching into CHEE3004 Unit Operations in Semester 1 and CHEE7103 BE/ME Design Project in Semester 2.

Availability

Professor Tom Rufford is:
Not available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Engineering, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Member, Engineers Australia, Engineers Australia
  • Member, Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)
  • Member, International Society of Electrochemistry, International Society of Electrochemistry

Search Professor Tom Rufford’s works on UQ eSpace

205 works between 2006 and 2027
All (205) Book (1) Journal Article (104) Other Outputs (10) Conference Publication (88) Book Chapter (2)

21 - 40 of 205 works

2026

Conference Publication

Materials requirements for electrochemical conversion of CO2 for decarbonization of industrial processes

Rufford, Thomas E. (2026). Materials requirements for electrochemical conversion of CO2 for decarbonization of industrial processes. 12th Pacific Rim International Conference on Advanced Materials and Processing, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 10 - 13 August 2026.

Materials requirements for electrochemical conversion of CO2 for decarbonization of industrial processes

2026

Journal Article

π-Bridge strategy in conjugated organic polymers activates charge- and energy-involved dual pathways for photocatalytic H₂O₂ production

Sun, Xin, Wang, Tianyi, Rahman, Sharidya, Ge, Yuhui, Yang, Jindi, Bie, Chuanbiao, Zhang, Hao, Jasieniak, Jacek J., Zhang, Xiwang, Rufford, Thomas E. and Zeng, Xiangkang (2026). π-Bridge strategy in conjugated organic polymers activates charge- and energy-involved dual pathways for photocatalytic H₂O₂ production. Chemical Engineering Journal, 540 177412, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.177412

π-Bridge strategy in conjugated organic polymers activates charge- and energy-involved dual pathways for photocatalytic H₂O₂ production

2026

Other Outputs

Effects of Cell Design and Operating Parameters on Oscillatory Instability in an Anion-Exchange Membrane CO2 Electrolyzer

Bi, Wei, Vieri, Hizkia Manuel, Ibrahim, Mohamed H., Listyorini, Niken T., Alanazi, Abdullah N., Knibbe, Ruth and Rufford, Thomas E. (2026). Effects of Cell Design and Operating Parameters on Oscillatory Instability in an Anion-Exchange Membrane CO2 Electrolyzer. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.6759638

Effects of Cell Design and Operating Parameters on Oscillatory Instability in an Anion-Exchange Membrane CO2 Electrolyzer

2025

Conference Publication

Determining the representative elementary area for multiphase flow in gas diffusion layers: leveraging tomographic imaging with the lattice Boltzmann method

Paraskevas, Nicholas, Leonardi, Chris R., Rufford, Thomas E. and Mitchell, Travis R. (2025). Determining the representative elementary area for multiphase flow in gas diffusion layers: leveraging tomographic imaging with the lattice Boltzmann method. The 9th Asian Pacific Congress on Computational Mechanics and 7th Australasian Conference on Computational Mechanics, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7-10 December 2025.

Determining the representative elementary area for multiphase flow in gas diffusion layers: leveraging tomographic imaging with the lattice Boltzmann method

2025

Other Outputs

Predicted effects of rectangular geometry on a hydrogen-based direct reduced iron shaft furnace

Dai, Yuchen, Rufford, Thomas E., Ma, Xiaodong, Hao, Liangyuan, Evans, Tim J. and Wang, Geoff (2025). Predicted effects of rectangular geometry on a hydrogen-based direct reduced iron shaft furnace. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.5641162

Predicted effects of rectangular geometry on a hydrogen-based direct reduced iron shaft furnace

2025

Conference Publication

Electrodeposited silver catalyst for CO2 to CO electrolysis: stability and performance across different configurations

Vieri, Hizkia Manuel, Bi, Wei, Listyorini, Niken Taufiqurrahmi, Patel, Princekumar, Zheng, Zhong, Knibbe, Ruth and Rufford, Thomas E. (2025). Electrodeposited silver catalyst for CO2 to CO electrolysis: stability and performance across different configurations. Nano Korea 2025, Seoul, South Korea, 2-4 July 2025. Seoul, South Korea:

Electrodeposited silver catalyst for CO2 to CO electrolysis: stability and performance across different configurations

2025

Journal Article

Water oxidation to hydrogen peroxide over a super-aerophilic graphite catalyst

Javed, Umer, Tebyetekerwa, Mike, Tang, Cheng, Zeng, Xiangkang, Wang, Zhuyuan, Sun, Kaige, Yang, Jindi, Marriam, Ifra, Guo, Lijun, Sun, Xin, Sahu, Aloka Kumar, Zhang, Yanzhao, Zamyadi, Arash, Du, Aijun, Li, Qin, Rufford, Thomas E. and Zhang, Xiwang (2025). Water oxidation to hydrogen peroxide over a super-aerophilic graphite catalyst. Advanced Materials, 37 (35) 2500834, e2500834. doi: 10.1002/adma.202500834

Water oxidation to hydrogen peroxide over a super-aerophilic graphite catalyst

2025

Journal Article

Amorphous CuSbOx composite-catalyzed electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO: CO2 demand-supply-regulated performance

Fu, Huai Qin, Yu, Tingting, White, Jessica, Sun, Ji Wei, Wu, Yuming, Li, Wen Jing, Bedford, Nicholas M., Wang, Yun, Rufford, Thomas E., Lian, Cheng, Liu, Porun, Yang, Hua Gui and Zhao, Huijun (2025). Amorphous CuSbOx composite-catalyzed electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO: CO2 demand-supply-regulated performance. Chem, 11 (3) 102362, 102362-3. doi: 10.1016/j.chempr.2024.10.029

Amorphous CuSbOx composite-catalyzed electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO: CO2 demand-supply-regulated performance

2025

Journal Article

Material needs for power-to-X systems for CO<sub>2</sub> utilization require a life cycle approach

Sahu, Aloka Kumar, Rufford, Thomas E., Ali, Saleem H., Knibbe, Ruth, Smart, Simon, Jiao, Feng, Bell, Alexis T. and Zhang, Xiwang (2025). Material needs for power-to-X systems for CO2 utilization require a life cycle approach. Chemical Science, 16 (14), 5819-5835. doi: 10.1039/d4sc07752k

Material needs for power-to-X systems for CO<sub>2</sub> utilization require a life cycle approach

2024

Journal Article

Pairing Oxygen Reduction and Water Oxidation for Dual-Pathway H2O2 Production

Sun, Xin, Yang, Jindi, Zeng, Xiangkang, Guo, Lijun, Bie, Chuanbiao, Wang, Zhuyuan, Sun, Kaige, Sahu, Aloka Kumar, Tebyetekerwa, Mike, Rufford, Thomas E. and Zhang, Xiwang (2024). Pairing Oxygen Reduction and Water Oxidation for Dual-Pathway H2O2 Production. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 63 (52) e202414417, 1-17. doi: 10.1002/anie.202414417

Pairing Oxygen Reduction and Water Oxidation for Dual-Pathway H2O2 Production

2024

Conference Publication

Lattice-Boltzmann modelling of flooding in gas diffusion electrodes for stable electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2R)

Paraskevas, Nicholas, Rufford, Thomas, Leonardi, Christopher and Mitchell, Travis (2024). Lattice-Boltzmann modelling of flooding in gas diffusion electrodes for stable electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2R). 24th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference - AFMC2024, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 1 - 5 December 2024. Geneve, Switzerland: Zenodo. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.14213538

Lattice-Boltzmann modelling of flooding in gas diffusion electrodes for stable electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2R)

2024

Journal Article

Pairing Oxygen Reduction and Water Oxidation for Dual‐Pathway H2O2 Production

Sun, Xin, Yang, Jindi, Zeng, Xiangkang, Guo, Lijun, Bie, Chuanbiao, Wang, Zhuyuan, Sun, Kaige, Sahu, Aloka Kumar, Tebyetekerwa, Mike, Rufford, Thomas E. and Zhang, Xiwang (2024). Pairing Oxygen Reduction and Water Oxidation for Dual‐Pathway H2O2 Production. Angewandte Chemie, 136 (52) e202414417, 1-17. doi: 10.1002/ange.202414417

Pairing Oxygen Reduction and Water Oxidation for Dual‐Pathway H2O2 Production

2024

Journal Article

AI: Educating the educators

Konarova, Muxina, Fitzgerald, Rachel, Birkett, Greg, Bakharia, Aneesha, Howes, Tony, Rufford, Tom and O'Brien, Kate (2024). AI: Educating the educators. The Chemical Engineer, 26-28.

AI: Educating the educators

2024

Journal Article

Flooding control by electrochemically reduced graphene oxide additives in silver catalyst layers for CO2 electrolysis

Wu, Yuming, Idros, Mohamed Nazmi, Feng, Desheng, Huang, Wengang, Burdyny, Thomas, Wang, Bo, Wang, Geoff, Li, Mengran and Rufford, Thomas E. (2024). Flooding control by electrochemically reduced graphene oxide additives in silver catalyst layers for CO2 electrolysis. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 16 (42), 56967-56974. doi: 10.1021/acsami.4c09095

Flooding control by electrochemically reduced graphene oxide additives in silver catalyst layers for CO2 electrolysis

2024

Conference Publication

Hydrogen in engineering degrees and its importance

Rufford, Thomas E. (2024). Hydrogen in engineering degrees and its importance. 6th Australia (Inter)National Hydrogen Day – Queensland Edition, Kelvin Grove, QLD Australian, 8 October 2024. Perth, WA Australia: Hydrogen Society of Australia.

Hydrogen in engineering degrees and its importance

2024

Conference Publication

Threading process control and process safety concepts through undergraduate chemical engineering courses at UQ

Coulter, Bev, Ye, Liu, Oehmen, Adrian and Rufford, Thomas E. (2024). Threading process control and process safety concepts through undergraduate chemical engineering courses at UQ. CHEMECA 2024, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 29 September - 1 October 2024. IChemE.

Threading process control and process safety concepts through undergraduate chemical engineering courses at UQ

2024

Conference Publication

Scaffolding development of process engineering drawing skills across an undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum

Rufford, Thomas E., Coulter, Bev, Ye, Liu, Fraga, Gabriel and Jensen, Paul (2024). Scaffolding development of process engineering drawing skills across an undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum. CHEMECA 2024, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 29 September-1 October 2024. IChemE.

Scaffolding development of process engineering drawing skills across an undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum

2024

Conference Publication

Catalyst ink effects in the fabrication of electrodes for CO2 electrolysis

Rufford, Thomas E., Idros, Mohammed Nazmi, Wu, Yuming, Sahu, Aloka Kumar, Li, Mengran, Duignan, Tim and Wang, Geoff (2024). Catalyst ink effects in the fabrication of electrodes for CO2 electrolysis. International Conference on Advanced Materials for Energy, Environment and Health 2024, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 24-27 September 2024. Adelaide, SA, Australia: The University of Adelaide.

Catalyst ink effects in the fabrication of electrodes for CO2 electrolysis

2024

Conference Publication

Progress and challenges in the electrochemical conversion of CO2 for decarbonization of ironmaking

Rufford, Thomas E. and Wang, Geoff (2024). Progress and challenges in the electrochemical conversion of CO2 for decarbonization of ironmaking. HBIS-UQ Innovation Centre for Sustainable Steel (ICSS) –ICSS Symposium 2024, Shijiazhuang, China, 23 - 24 May 2024.

Progress and challenges in the electrochemical conversion of CO2 for decarbonization of ironmaking

2024

Journal Article

An indirect Z-scheme heterostructure of nano-gold layer immobilized Cu-Al-doped SrTiO3 and CoOx-WO3 for photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Sahu, Aloka Kumar, Pokhriyal, Meenakshi, Banerjee, Debarun, Rufford, Thomas E. and Upadhyayula, Sreedevi (2024). An indirect Z-scheme heterostructure of nano-gold layer immobilized Cu-Al-doped SrTiO3 and CoOx-WO3 for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Chemical Engineering Journal, 487 150716, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.150716

An indirect Z-scheme heterostructure of nano-gold layer immobilized Cu-Al-doped SrTiO3 and CoOx-WO3 for photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2029
    Redefining pH and Advancing Electrolyte Thermodynamics using Ion Trios (ARC Discovery Project administered by The University of Western Australia)
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2030
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide
    ARC Centres of Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Low emission iron and steelmaking using hydrogen to pre-reduce lump ore
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022
    Laboratory verification of heating milk in Exothermic Baby bottle
    The Trustee for Grumbler Provisions Entrepreneurial Trust
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Understanding wetting of gas diffusion electrodes during electrochemical CO2 reduction
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Developing a full-chain process integrated CO2 capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies with iron- and steel-making for HBIS
    HBIS Group Co, Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Selective wellbore coatings to control fines damage in coal seam gas wells
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Optimisation of Devatering Rates to Maximise CSG Production
    Arrow Energy Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Multiphase and multiscale modelling of gas-liquid-particle transport in CSG reservoirs and wells
    Pawsey Supercomputing Centre
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2023
    Electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formic acid
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Acoustic levitation facility for high pressure multiphase systems research (ARC LIEF project administered by the University of Western Australia)
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2021
    The Australian Centre for LNG Futures (ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre administered by the University of Western Australia)
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Relative Permeability in Coal
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    X-ray transparent core flood apparatus
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Mathematical modelling of wellbore pressure profiles in CSG (pumped) wells
    QGC Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    High-pressure experimental measurements of gas-water relative permeability behaviour
    QGC Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Controlling fines in coal seam gas wells using MgO nanoparticles
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Recovering helium from Australia's natural gas: A case study for advanced adsorption processes to concentrate dilute gases
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2017
    Identification, characterisation and stimulation of low permeability coals (Centre for Coal Seam Gas Research Project)
    Santos Limited
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2018
    Understanding, characterising, and managing solids production in CSG producing wells (Centre for Coal Seam Gas Research Project)
    Santos Limited
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Tom Rufford is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Professor Tom Rufford's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au