John W. Weidner

Professor & Chair of Chemical Engineering
CEC Campaign for Excellence Professor

Professor Weidner's research group is involved in the synthesis and characterization of electrochemically active materials, and the design and operation of electrochemical processes. The have created novel synthesis routines, used a variety of electrocanalytical techniques, and developed sophisticated mathematical models to advance the fields of advanced batteries, electrochemical capacitors, fuel cells, electrochemical synthesis in room temperature ionic liquids, and electrolysis involving gas-fed anodes ( e.g., HBr, HCl, SO₂ ) Their current research projects related to hydrogen and alternative energy. They are: ( 1 ) developing nanostructured TiO₂ supports for a solar-hydrogen system that integrates III-V semiconductors, Fresnel lens concentrators, and water electrolysis into a single unit; ( 2 ) synthesizing novel bi- and tri-metallic electrocatalysts for proton-exchange membrane ( PEM ) fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells
( DMFC ); and ( 3 ) designing electrolyzers and developing electrocatalysts for use in thermochemical cycles for large scale hydrogen production from solar and nuclear energy.

Education

• Ph. D., Chemical Engineering,
  North Carolina State University ( 1991 )
• B. S., Chemical Engineering,
  University of Wisconsin - Madison ( 1986 )

Selected Publications

• J. A. Staser, M. B. Gorensek, and J. W. Weidner, "Quantifying Individual Potential Contributions of the Hybrid Sulfur Electrolyzer," J. Electrochim. Soc., 157( 6 ), B952 - B958
  ( 2010 ) [ PDF ]
• B. L. Garcia, R. Fuentes, and J. W. Weidner, "Low Temperature Synthesis of PtRu/Nb₀₁TiO_0.9O₂ Electrocatalyst for Methanol Oxidation," Electrochem. Solid-State Lett., 10, B108 - B110
  ( 2007 ) [ PDF ]
• B.L. Garcia, V. A. Sethuraman, J. W. Weidner, R. E. White, and R. Dougal, "Mathematical Model of a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell," J. Fuel Cell Sc. and Tech., 1, 43 - 48 ( 2004 )[ PDF ]
• M. AlNashef, M. L. Leonard, M. C. Kittle, M. A. Matthews, and J. W. Weidner, "Electrochemical Generation of Superoxide in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids," Electrochem. Solid-State Lett., 4, D16 - D18 ( 2001 )[ PDF ]
• S. Motupally, A. J. Becker, and J. W. Weidner, "Diffusion of Water in NafionÒ 115 Membranes," J Electrochem. Soc., 147, 3171 - 3177 ( 2000 )[ PDF ]
• V. Srinivasan and J. W. Weidner, "An Electrochemical Route for Making Porous Nickel Oxide Electrochemical Capacitors," J. Electrochem. Soc., 144, L210 - L213 ( 1997 )[ PDF ]