Research area: Sustainable energy solutions

Researchers in this group are working to push the efficiency and durability of multiple energy systems and pathways through novel material development and  innovative device and component design. We work on tackling some of the pressing challenges facing the energy landscape such as reducing carbon footprint of energy production, energy storage solutions for renewable energy integration and clean and efficient pathways for energy utilization. ​

Research sub-areas

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)​

CCUS research aims to reduce the carbon footprint by capturing CO2 for storage and conversion to fuels. Research areas include modeling of CCUS systems, carbon capture and biofuels, direct air capture of CO2 and materials for CO2 capture. 

Faculty members: Giovanniantonio Natale​, Hector De la Hoz Siegler, Sean McCoy, Steven Bryant, Hossein Hejazi

Also see Natural Resources and Extraction and Systems Analysis, Modelling and Simulation.

Energy harvesting and production​

Developing efficient energy production solutions to minimize the carbon footprint. Research areas include geothermal and geo-energy harvesting, fuel cells to convert hydrogen to electricity and carbon negative crude oil.  

Faculty members: Apostolos Kantzas, Kunal Karan, Mayank Sabharwal​, Steven Bryant, Hossein Hejazi

Also see Natural Resources and Resource Extraction. 

Energy storage solutions​

Developing next-generation energy storage solutions with high turnaround efficiency and low cost of storage. Some of the research areas include solid-state batteries, redox flow batteries and water electrolyzers for hydrogen production. 

Faculty members: Anne Benneker, Edward Roberts, Mayank Sabharwal, Milana Trifkovic, Qingye Lu, Hossein Hejazi

Waste to products ​

Converting waste especially plastic to useful products, especially fuels, is crucial to ensuring a sustainable and circular energy economy. Research in this area is looking at converting plastic to hydrogen and carbon. 

Faculty members: Josephine Hill​

Expertise

  • Computational modeling at the microscale, device and system level​

  • Electrochemical cell design ​

  • In-situ and operando visualization of transport in systems

  • Material synthesis ​

  • Novel material and catalyst development ​

  • Transport characterization across multiple scales​