Who We Are

Advanced technologies for converting energy are necessary foundations for a competitive energy system. The Energy Conversion Group works on production of fuels and their use in fuel cells and fuel-cell-like systems and related technologies, such as those for efficient combustion and the interconversion of different energies including thermal, chemical, electrical and mechanical. Our work includes:

• Developing efficient combustion technologies by studying the fundamental physics and chemistry of combustion
• Fuel cells performance and durability using multiscale mathematical modeling and associated advanced diagnostics
• Examination of structure/function/property relationships of ion-conducting polymers and thin films
• Production of low-cost hydrogen using electrochemical technologies
• New technologies and materials for interconversion of thermal, electrical, mechanical and chemical energies

We approach these challenges by understanding and optimizing next-generation fuel-cell and related energy-conversion components and materials, mainly through physics-based, multiscale modeling of cell behavior and advanced diagnostics of cell properties and phenomena. Our work focuses on exploration of transport phenomena including charged and neutral species, along with structure/function/property relationships of the essential components common to many of these technologies to improve device performance and durability.

The group comprises a multidisciplinary team of electrochemists, chemical engineers, mechanical engineers, theorists and material scientists.  We have active collaborations between industry, academia and national laboratories.