Electrochemical Technologies

The EMS Energy Institute’s Electrochemical Technologies Program strives to be at the forefront of fundamental and applied research in a variety of electrochemical and materials science technologies. We lead interdisciplinary studies on interfacial electrochemistry of high temperature aqueous systems in several scientific areas, including corrosion, protective coatings, proton exchange membrane and solid oxide fuel cells, and electrochemical sensors. Our program promotes and facilitates the use of electrochemical probes and systems important for society, particularly fuel cells; nuclear, fossil fuel, and geothermal power generation; hydrothermal synthesis of new materials; and supercritical water oxidation of hazardous wastes.

Research

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells:

• Utilization of alternative fuels
• Novel liquid metal anode materials
• Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and degradation studies

Electrolysis and Flow Batteries:

• Electrochemical cell design, modeling, and optimization
• Development and characterization of novel membrane materials
• Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and degradation studies

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells:

• Development and characterization of new composite membranes for operating at elevated temperatures
• PEMFC operating at elevated temperatures and low relative humidity

CO₂ Sequestration and Geothermal Power Generation:

• Metal corrosion in supercritical CO₂ fluids
• Electrochemical monitoring and testing in supercritical CO₂
• Modeling of phase equilibria in sequestration environments

High Temperature Nano-Electrophoresis:

• Zeta potential of nanoparticles at elevated temperature and pressure
• Electrical double layer at mineral-water interface in hydrothermal environments

Electrochemical Sensors and Probes:

• High temperature pH sensing
• High temperature reference electrodes
• Corrosion and conductivity probes in subcritical and supercritical fluids

Computational Modeling:

• Equation of state and thermodynamics of multi-phase multicomponent systems
• Simulation of electrochemical processes and systems
• Molecular-statistical, irreversible, and chemical thermodynamic modeling of aqueous systems