A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Peter N. Pintauro
February 18, 2008

Abstract

Proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which operate at relatively low temperatures with either hydrogen gas or liquid methanol as the fuel, are promising electrochemical energy conversion devices for automotive, stationary power, and portable power applications. A key component of such fuel cells is the ion-exchange membrane, which physically separates the electrodes, prevents mixing of the fuel and oxidant, and provides pathways for proton transport between the electrodes. The property/performance requirements that have been placed on the fuel cell membrane are stringent and highly demanding. For a hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell, the membrane must conduct protons when fully wet and partially dry. In a direct methanol fuel cell, the membrane must conduct protons but not be permeable to methanol. Additionally, all fuel cell membrane materials must be thermally, mechanically and chemically stable and of moderate cost. Over the past 15-20 years, fuel cell membrane research has evolved from the synthesis and testing of new polymers to the fabrication and examination of polymer blends and polymeric/particle composites. These past efforts to create an "ideal" fuel cell membrane have resulted in only modest successes. Today, much of the exciting and promising fuel cell membrane R&D is focused on membrane nanomorphology control, via strategies such as polymer chemistry design, the use of block copolymers that self organize at the nano-scale, and new membrane fabrication techniques that alter the membrane nanostructure. In this talk, a historical overview of membrane development for hydrogen/air and direct methanol fuel cells will be given. Two examples of current work on fuel cell membrane nanomorphology manipulation/control will be discussed: (i) Polymer composite membranes based on interconnecting proton conductive nano-fibers and (ii) pre-stretched recast Nafion® for direct methanol fuel cells. The presentation will conclude by addressing the question posed in the seminar title.

Biography

Peter N. Pintauro is the Kent Hale Smith Professor of Engineering and Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. He received B.S. (1973) and M.S. (1975) degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. degree (1980) from the University of California, Los Angeles. From 1981 through 1986 he was a post-doctoral scholar and then research assistant professor in the chemical engineering department at UCLA, doing work primarily in organic electrochemistry. He joined the faculty of Tulane University in August 1986, where he rose to the rank of professor of chemical engineering in 1994. He accepted the department chair position at Case Western Reserve University in July of 2002 and was appointed Kent Hale Smith Professor in October 2004. His research interests are in the areas of electrochemical engineering, membrane fabrication and separations, membrane transport modeling, fuel cells and organic electrochemical synthesis. He is the author or co-author of 97 scientific publications and a listed inventor on six patents. He has given mroe than 100 invited lectures at technical conferences, industry and academia. From 1997 through 2002, he was North American editor of the Journal of Applied Electrochemistry. He is currently president of the North American Membrane Society and is an active member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Electrochemical Society and the American Chemical Society.

A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Mark Kushner
January 31, 2008

Abstract

Plasmas find extensive use in every day technologies, either directly such as lighting and plasma display panels, or indirectly through their use in manufacturing of a wide range of products, from microelectronics to commodity polymers. Plasmas act as a power transfer medium in which power from the wall plug is converted to the kinetic energy of electrons and ions. These energetic charged species, through collisions in the gas phase and with surfaces, produce chemically active species. These species modify materials, as in microelectronics fabrication, or are themselves the end product, as in photons. Plasmas are potentially highly energy efficient sources of activation energy due to our ability to customize the distribution of electron and ion energies to selectively produce desired excited states and surface species. Improvements in those plasma activated processes have the potential for large improvements in energy utilization. For example, 22 percent of the electrical power generated in the United States is used for lighting and a large fraction of that is used to excite a single excited state of the mercury atom in plasma based lighting. In this talk, results from computational investigations of plasma activated chemistry for manufacture of high value materials will be discussed with emphasis on highly energy efficient and selective processes. Examples will be used from two extremes of materials processing: low pressure plasmas for microelectronics fabrication and atmospheric pressure plasma functionalization of biomaterials. Means of optimizing these processes for desired material characteristics while minimizing energy use will be discussed.

Biography

Mark J. Kushner received a B.A. in astronomy and a B.S. in nuclear engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1976. His M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in applied physics were from the California Institute of Technology in 1977 and 1979, respectively, where he was also the Weizmann Postdoctoral Research Fellow.

Kushner served on the technical staffs of Sandia National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory before joining Spectra Technology, where he was director of electron, atomic and molecular physics. In 1986, Kushner moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he was the Founder Professor of Engineering in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His administrative roles included Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs in the College of Engineering, Interim Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Interim Head of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

He joined Iowa State University as dean of engineering and the Melsa Professor of Engineering in January 2005. His primary academic appointment is in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and he is an affiliate of the Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering; and Material Science and Engineering. Kushner continues his active research program in his role as dean.

He has published more than 230 journal articles, made more than 350 contributed presentations and delivered more than 200 invited conference talks and seminars on topics related to plasma materials processing, lasers, lighting sources and pulse power plasmas. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, IEEE, the Optical Society of America, the American Vacuum Society, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and the Institute of Physics.

Kushner has received the Semiconductor Research Corporation Technical Excellence Award, the Tegal Thinker Award for Plasma Etch Technology, the AVS Plasma Science and Technology Award, and the IEEE Plasma Science and Applications Award. He was also a Japanese Society for Advancement of Science Fellow. He serves on the editorial boards or is associate editor of Transactions of Plasma Science, Journal of Physics D, Plasma Processing and Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing and Polymers; and is Editor-in-Chief of Plasma Sources Science and Technology.

A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Valerie Sarisky-Reed
June 13, 2008

This lecture is in conjunction with the UMERC Biofuels Symposium.

Abstract

This presentation will address the technical, political, and infrastructure barriers facing the development of a successful biofuels industry in the U.S., as well as the efforts the department is taking to overcome them through its Biofuels Initiatives. This discussion will include a description of the goals of the President's Advanced Energy Initiative and 20 in 10 Initiative, current programmatic work, major research and development successes and planning for the future.

Biography

Valerie Reed is the team leader for Biochemical and Thermochemical Conversion R&D in the Biomass Programs for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy. She received her Ph.D. in chemistry from Georgetown University in 1993. Since then, she has been working 15 years in various arenas on producing liquid fuels from biomass. She worked closely with administration in developing the Executive Order entitled "DEVELOPING AND PROMOTING BIOBASED PRODUCTS AND BIOENERGY," which was formalized into law under the Biomass R&D Act of 2000 and has lead to EPACT 2005 Bioenergy Provisions as well as the recently enacted Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
 
 

A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Günther Scherer
February 26, 2009

Abstract

Transportation systems rely heavily on oil products and significant reduction of primary energy demand and the associated CO2-emissions are estimated to be quite cost-intensive related to other energy sectors. In any case, demand for transportation services is expected to increase drastically within the next decades, typically up to 3-5 times higher than today's levels around 2050 worldwide. One of the most promising options in the mid- to long-term is the (at least partial) electrification of vehicle powertrains. Electrochemical energy converters, e.g. fuel cells, and storage systems, like batteries and supercapacitors, show intrinsically higher conversion efficiencies than the related thermochemical systems. The presentation focuses on our work on the development of hybrid power trains for automotive use, based on polymer electrolyte fuel cells in combination with supercapacitors as storage unit. Implications of these developments will be discussed, in particular some of the related material issues.

Biography

Günther G. Scherer directs the Electrochemistry Laboratory at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. He received his Ph.D. from the Technical University of Berlin and the Fritz Haber Institute on the study of electro- and photoelectro-chemistry under the direction of Prof. Heinz Gerischer. After graduation, he held several distinguished research positions at IBM (in San Jose), at Battelle (in Frankfurt), and then Brown Bovieri and Ingold Messtechnik (in Switzerland). In 1989, he joined the Paul Scherrer Institute as head of the fuel cell group where he developed an international reputation as a leader in PEM fuel cell materials and design. In 2002, he was promoted to the head of the electrochemical laboratory, which conducts multi-disciplinary research in fuel cells, batteries, electrochemical capacitors, and related materials and systems development. He serves on numerous international advisory and review boards for both industry and government R&D efforts throughout Europe.

A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Raymond Orbach
April 14, 2009

Abstract

Not too many years ago, we seemed to be living in a world where energy was inexpensive, readily available and seemingly limitless in supply. That world, if it every really existed, is now clearly a thing of the past. Global energy consumption is set to double by the end of the century. Some say it will triple. And if we attempt to supply that energy with fossil fuels, the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere will be enormous. These are the two questions that loom over humanity today: how will we supply all this needed new energy, and how can we do so without adding dangerously to atmospheric greenhouse gases?

Incremental improvements in our current technologies will not be enough to meet this challenge. Transformational breakthroughs in basic science that provide the foundation for truly disruptive technologies that fundamentally change the rules of the game are required. Orbach will discuss six areas of opportunity that a research university can address from this perspective: 1) Electrical Energy Storage; 2) Solar Energy; 3) Closing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle; 4) Fusion Energy materials; 5) Reduction of Carbon Emissions from Fossil Fuels; and 6) Transportation Fuels from Non-Edible Plant Material.

Biography

Raymond L. Orbach directed U.S. government's investment in basic science research, developed the science base for applied programs and integrated basic and applied research. He had direct responsibility for ten Department of Energy laboratories, developed business plans, transparent processes for performance appraisal, and technology transfer policy. In addition, he worked with administration and Congress to manage and fund research and develop policy for the physical and biological sciences. Orbach managed major public research university and was responsible for academic programs, budget, faculty hiring and promotion, student programs, interaction with state government, relationship with community, and private fund raising. Taught undergraduate and graduate physics classes. He conducted basic research in condensed matter physics, received grants from Office of Naval Research and National Science Foundation. Orbach received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.S. in physics from the California Institute of Technology.

A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Eric Wachsman
April 16, 2009

Abstract

Fuel cells offer great promise as a clean and efficient process for directly converting chemical energy to electricity while providing significant environmental benefits. Among the different fuel cell technologies, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are unique in their ability to operate both within the current fossil fuel based energy infrastructure and as part of a future proposed hydrogen fuel infrastructure. Unfortunately, SOFC cost and reliability are limited by high operating temperature requirements. With the current state of the art SOFCs, performance at lower temperature is limited by cathode polarization.

In order to understand the various mechanistic contributions to cathode polarization and apply this knowledge to development of lower-polarization/lower-temperature SOFC cathodes, we have embarked on a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary approach to deconvolute the various contributions to SOFC cathode polarization. This approach includes FIB/SEM to quantify the cathode microstructure (in terms of tortuosity and porosity for gas diffusion, solid-phase surface area for gas adsorption/surface diffusion, and triple phase boundaries for the charge transfer reaction) and heterogeneous catalysis techniques (temperature programmed desorption and reaction) and O-isotope exchange to evaluate the O2 reduction mechanism at the gas-solid reaction interface. These results are then combined (and contrasted) with the more conventional electrochemical polarization techniques (impedance spectroscopy and I-V behavior) to try and elucidate each of the mechanisms as a function of material and microstructure. The progress to date on this investigation will be presented.

In addition, an overview of related solid state ionics research at the UF - Department of Energy High Temperature Electrochemistry Center and a brief introduction to the Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy will be presented.

Biography

Eric Wachsman is the director of the Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy, director of the U.S. Department of Energy High Temperature Electrochemistry Center at the University of Florida, and the Rhines Chair Professor of Department of Materials Science & Engineering. He received a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Stanford University, and a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to coming to the University of Florida, Wachsman rose through the ranks from post-doctorate to senior scientist at SRI International.

Wachsman has focused his career on developing advanced, efficient, energy conversion devices and technologies. His research is on ionic transport in solids and the heterogeneous electrocatalysis at their surface. This research includes the development of solid oxide fuel cells, gas separation membranes, solid-state gas sensors, the electrocatalytic conversion of CH4, and the post-combustion reduction of NOx using advanced ion conducting materials.

Wachsman is a Fellow of The Electrochemical Society (ECS) and the past chair of the High Temperature Materials Division of ECS. In addition, he is editor-in-chief of Ionics, formerly an associate editor of Journal of the American Ceramic Society, councilor of the Florida Section of the American Ceramic Society, and a member of the American Chemical Society, the International Society for Solid State Ionics and the Materials Research Society. He has more than 140 publications and eight patents on ionic and electronic transport in ceramics, their catalytic properties, and device performance.

Wachsman is also a frequent invited panelist on fuel cell and hydrogen energy research, ranging from the U.S. Department of Energy "Fuel Cell Report to Congress" and "Basic Research Needs Related to High Temperature Electrochemical Devices for Hydrogen Production, Storage and Use," to the National Science Foundation "Workshop on Fundamental Research Needs in Ceramics," NATO "Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conducting (MIEC) Perovskites for Advanced Energy Systems,” and the National Academies “Global Dialogues on Emerging Science and Technologies."

A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Robert Hwang
April 20, 2009

Abstract

The access to affordable and abundant energy lies at the heart of our economy and our quality of life. The world's appetite for energy is expected to double to more than 28 terawatts by the year 2050. Compounding this challenge is the clear need to protect our environment by increasing energy efficiency and developing carbon-neutral energy sources. Nanoscience and nanotechnology present exciting and important approaches to addressing our global energy challenges. At the root of the opportunities provided by nanoscience to enhance our energy security is the fact that all of the elementary steps of energy conversion (e.g. charge transfer, chemical reactions, molecular rearrangements, etc.) take place at the nanoscale. Thus an understanding of these phenomena and the ability to control processes at this scale will be vital to achieve the breakthroughs that we need. While tremendous progress has been made in the last few years, research and development must be strongly linked to strategic targets for maximal impact. Sandia National Laboratories is a leader in nanoscience and couples fundamental research to real engineering solutions. In particular, the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies is a DOE-supported user facility with the expressed mission to accelerate the development in nanoscience and nanotechnology. In this talk, I will describe the work at Sandia National Laboratories in the areas of nanoscience for energy applications and highlight technology areas where the need for focused R&D activities are critically needed.

Biography

Bob Hwang received his undergraduate degree from UCLA in physics and his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. He then went on to a postdoc position at the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Bob was then awarded an Alexander von Humboldt award and spent one year at the University of Munich. In 1991, he took a position at Sandia National Labs in Livermore, Calif., where he conducted research in the area of surface physics. In 2003, he moved to Brookhaven National Lab as director of the Center for Functional Nanomaterials where he stayed until 2006. Hwang is presently at Sandia National Labs in New Mexico where he serves as the director of the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, which is a DOE-supported Nanoscale Science Research Center.

A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Tien Duong
March 26, 2010

Abstract

This presentation will discuss the current status and direction of the energy storage R&D effort conducted by the DOE Vehicle Technologies Program (VTP). The energy storage R&D effort is responsible for researching and improving energy storage technologies for a wide range of vehicle applications, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (EVs). This effort encompasses multiple activities – hardware development with industry (United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC)), mid-term R&D (Applied Battery Research (ABR)), and focused fundamental research (Batteries for Advanced Transportation Technologies (BATT)). These three energy storage R&D activities are designed to complement each other. The USABC’s goal is to support the development of a domestic advanced battery industry whose products can meet technical goals. The ABR program assists industrial developers in overcoming key barriers to the use of lithium-ion batteries for transportation applications – mainly safety, life and cost. The BATT program addresses fundamental issues of chemistries and materials associated with lithium batteries.

Biography

Tien Duong is currently manager for the Batteries for Advanced Transportation Technologies (BATT) activity at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The focus of the BATT activity is conducting research and development on the next generation of battery technologies – beyond lithium-ion batteries. Tien has been a staff member of the Energy Storage R&D effort in the Vehicle Technologies Program since 1994. He was manager of the Energy Storage R&D effort from 1999 to 2003, and was team lead in the Hybrid and Electric Systems Team from 2004 to 2008. Tien has been a member of the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) Technical Advisory Committee and Management Committee. He has closely coordinated research efforts with the DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), the Basic Energy Sciences Office, and the National Science Foundation. Before joining the DOE, Tien worked as a senior electrical engineer at the U.S. Army Belvoir Research and Development Engineering Center at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He conducted power assessments, design modifications, and testing of generator sets in support of the Department of Defense Project Manager – Mobile Electric Power (PM-MEP) Office. Between 1974 and 1979, Tien studied Chemistry at the University of Saigon, Vietnam before emigrating to the United States. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Civil Engineering, both from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Imre Gyuk
May 14, 2010

Abstract

Energy storage provides energy when it is needed, just as transmission provides energy where it is needed. While transmission of electricity has become an all encompassing web, grid scale energy storage, with the exception of pumped hydro, has only been considered for the last few years. With increasing vulnerability of the grid and increasing penetration of intermittent, renewable energy, buffering the grid has become a high priority. Current state of available technology and the storage application space will be presented with a focus on DOE involvement. Prospects for development and directions for future research will be discussed.

Biography

After taking a B.S. from Fordham University, Dr. Gyuk did graduate work at Brown University on Superconductivity. Having received a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Purdue University he became a Research Associate at Syracuse. As an Assistant Professor he taught Physics, Civil Engineering and Environmental Architecture at the University of Wisconsin. Research interests included the theory of elementary particles, metallurgy of non-stoichiometric alloys, non-linear groundwater flow, and architectural design using renewable energy and passive solar techniques. Dr. Gyuk became an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Kuwait University where he organized an international Workshop on the Environment of the Arab Gulf.

Dr. Gyuk joined the Department of Energy to manage the Thermal and Physical Storage program. Later he managed DOE's research on biological effects of electric and magnetic fields. For the past decade he has directed the Energy Storage research program which funds work on a wide variety of technologies such as advanced batteries, flywheels, super-capacitors, and Compressed Air Energy Storage. Currently he also supervises the $185M stimulus funding for Grid Scale Energy Storage Demonstrations.

A "Transforming Energy" Lecture by Anthony Dean
November 5, 2010

Abstract

The improved understanding of elementary chemical reactions has markedly improved our ability to describe “real-world” systems. Such approaches require development of accurate, detailed chemical mechanisms, which in turn require careful analysis of different types of elementary reactions. This talk will describe our approach to the characterization of elementary reactions, the construction of detailed mechanisms, and the application to several systems, ranging from hydrocarbon oxidation to biomass-derived syngas cleanup to the impact of gas-phase reactions in the mixing region of catalytic reformers. A key component to the characterization of elementary reactions is the development of rate rules for the various types of free radical reactions, and our approach to such characterization will be described.

Biography

Anthony M. Dean is the W. K. Coors Distinguished Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at the Colorado School of Mines. He received his B.S. in chemistry from Spring Hill College and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Harvard University. He joined the Chemistry Department of the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1970 where his research program involved shock tube studies of elementary combustion-related reactions. In 1979 he moved to the Corporate Research Labs of Exxon Research and Engineering and focused on the quantitative kinetic characterization of gas-phase combustion systems.  He joined the CSM faculty in 2000, where his group currently studies the gas-phase kinetics within solid-oxide fuel cells, the combustion of renewable fuels, and the kinetics of biomass pyrolysis and gasification. A common element in these projects is the use of electronic structure calculations to develop rate rules that can be applied to develop detailed kinetic mechanisms.