John W. Weidner

Professor

Dr. Weidner’s research group is involved in the synthesis and characterization of electrochemically active materials. For example, they have extensively studied the electrochemical deposition and subsequent redox reactions of nickel hydroxide, the active material in nickel batteries. Currently his group has funding to synthesize and characterize novel materials for use in polymer-electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. They are developing CO tolerant anodes, and an electrochemical filter to preferentially oxidize CO from reformate gas. They are also developing electrocatalysts for the electrochemical conversion of anhydrous hydrogen chloride to chlorine and anhydrous bromide to bromine. The latter conversion is being studied as part of a thermo-chemical cycle to generate pure hydrogen for the hydrogen economy.

Dr. Weidner’s group also has improved the design and operation of electrochemical processes using experimental and theoretical tools. For example, they have studied metal ion removal from dilute waste streams, nitrate and nitrite destruction from radioactive wastes, the electrochemical fluorination of organic compounds, and electrochemical energy storage devices. Their approach is first to use the mathematical models to gain fundamental insight into the process by comparing simulations to experimental data over a wide range of operating conditions. This added insight is used to refine the models, and then the models are used to optimize the design and performance of the electrochemical process for a particular application. Currently his group has funding to investigate reactions in room-temperature ionic liquids using electrochemically generated superoxide ions, and the electrochemical conversion of anhydrous hydrogen halides to their respective halogen gases.