Energy Research Group @ Penn

Fuel Cells / Ceramic Sensors

Participants:
Dawn Bonnell, I-Wei Chen, Peter Davies, Joe Elabd (Drexel), Ray Gorte, Andrew Rappe, John Vohs, Karen Winey

Research on proton-exchange membrane (PEM) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) includes the design, processing, and testing of new materials, with emphasis on developing nanostructures in electrodes and electrolytes to improve performance and lifetime.  Impregnation methods are applied to SOFC and ceramic sensor electrode materials, which allows great flexibility in composition and structure. This is particularly applicable to anodes for direct utilization of hydrocarbons.  PEM fuel cell research emphasizes control of nanoscale morphology in block-copolymer electrolytes, allowing optimization of ionic conductivity and mechanical stability.

Energy Conversion Processes for Solar Power

Participants:
Ritesh Agarwal, Kent Blasie, Hai-Lung Dai, Fevzi Daldal, William DeGrado, Leslie Dutton, Jack Fischer, Michael Fryd, Cherie Kagan, Chris Murray, Andrew Rappe, Jeff Saven, Michael Therien, Bradford Wayland, Shu Yang

A number of key factors severely limit the efficiencies of available technologies for the conversion of solar energy for the generation of electricity and fuels.  Research at Penn is aimed at substantially improving the efficiencies of light-induced electric charge separation and transport and their coupling to the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water.  Novel materials are being created and characterized, based on organic-inorganic composites, ferroelectric semiconductors, nanoparticles and robust synthetic protein modules.

Hydrogen Storage

Participants:
Jack Fischer, Yury Gogotsi (Drexel), Alan MacDiarmid, Larry Sneddon, Taner Yildirim

Non-polluting hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles require on-board storage at densities comparable to liquid hydrogen without the cryogenics. This can be achieved by novel low-density materials based on nanoporous H₂ adsorbers or H-rich compounds which are readily decomposed and reconstituted. The success of this approach requires optimization of adsorption/desorption and formation energies respectively.

Advanced Structural Materials for Energy Applications

Participants:
John Bassani, Robert W. Carpick, Charlie McMahon, Talid Sinno, Vasek Vitek, Arjun Yodh

The research involves experiments on model lab heats of an ultra-high-strength steel (4340-type) and a high-toughness, high-strength steel (HY130-type) to determine the limits of ductile behavior as a function of yield strength, grain-boundary purity, and hydrogen fugacity. In addition, the existence and mechanism of brittle intergranular cracking in ideally pure steels is being investigated.