|
|
|
|
The Center for Electrochemical Engineering (CEE) at the University of South Carolina was created with the broad vision to spear ahead the theory and practice of electrochemical engineering, electrochemical power sources, electroplating and corrosion protection through education and research. The objective of our efforts since inception has been to bring together talented researchers in electrochemical engineering in order to provide specialized industry-specific research for the fuel cell, battery, corrosion, plating and metal finishing industries. We have strived over the years to be recognized globally as a coalition of academia, business and government agencies, committed to the support of science in providing viable solutions to different problems in the electrochemical industry and optimization of technologies for hydrogen production necessary for development of the next fuel cell-based energy conversion systems. Hydrogen storage in novel solid materials will help to store larger quantities of hydrogen in smaller volumes at low pressures and at ambient temperatures. Fuel cells with improved cathode catalyst will have the potential to convert hydrogen fuel to electricity with high efficiencies, durability and cost-effectiveness and will play an increasing role in energy conversion. Advances in functional materials for energy production, storage and conversion are needed to address key challenges in efficiency, durability, cost, and environmental impacts for energy production. The CEE is providing an interdisciplinary research in development of nanoscale catalyst, innovative synthetic techniques, novel characterization techniques, theory of modeling and simulations, which will result in more selective, robust, impurity-tolerant catalyst for hydrogen production, storage, hydrogen oxidation, and oxygen reduction. Advanced battery technologies and electrochemical (super) capacitors have been developed in the CEE for renewable energy storage and hybrid systems. Our goal in the future is to develop reliable energy storage technologies and novel chemistries for high power batteries with capacity fade less that 20% for ten years and supercapacitors with improved capacity, rate capability and durability are critical for achieving a future renewable energy economy, especially for transportation industries. |
|
The outstanding scientific contributions made so far by the CEE have enhanced the scientific knowledge in the areas of developing novel materials for fuel cells batteries, supercapacitors, nanostructure based electroplating processes and corrosion prevention. Supported by a group of theoretical, experimental, and applied researchers in engineering, chemistry, and physics, the CEE has gain strength in the outlined research with financial assistance from the government and the private sector. In the last year we have been nationally recognized by numerous Government Agencies such as the Department of Energy, Office of Naval Research, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), NASA, NSF, Sandia National Laboratories, South Carolina Department of Transportation General Electric, St. Jude Medical, FUJI., Faraday Technologies and other private industries for our contribution to the electrochemical fields. Our fuel cell research is also recognized by the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Fuel Cells More than 50 projects resulted in a more than 100 publications in the academic year 2005/2006. (http://www.che.sc.edu/centers/PEMFC/index.html) The goal of the CEE is also to establish an interdisciplinary graduate education and research program in the critical area of sustainable energy production, storage and conversion. The specific objectives are to foster advances in hydrogen production, storage and conversion technologies, to focus on advanced functional materials for renewable power sources, devices, design and simulation, economics and societal studies of the next energy. Our educational program is designed to prepare the next generation of graduate students for the challenges of an increasingly interdisciplinary research and development arena in sustainable energy technologies. We plan in the future to establish graduate education through participation of internationally recognized experts in the area of energy production and storage and to facilitate diversity in student participation. |
|
Director, Center for Electrochemical Engineering Branko N. Popov, Ph. D.
|
| List of Projects | Publications |
This web site is maintained by the
Webmaster.
All
contents copyright © The Board of
Trustees of the University of South
Carolina.
Last Modified: Friday, 8-Aug-2003 19:03 EDT
