Materials for Energy Applications Cluster

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Materials for Energy Applications

Energy is the fundamental mover and shaker in the universe. Our use of fossil fuels as energy supplier has expanded to where the exhaustion of that finite resource is in sight. There are many alternative, renewable, and sustainable energy technologies, but each has inherent limitations that prevent widespread implementation. In almost every case, the prime limitation is related to one or more of the materials properties of the active substances involved. From the photovoltaic effect in a solar cell, to the catalytic function of a syn-fuel catalyst, to the strength and density of a wind turbine blade, materials science and engineering research can provide answers that could bring these technologies to fruition. Thus the Materials for Energy Applications Cluster does not focus on a certain class of materials, but rather attempts to apply materials principles and analytical techniques to technological problems that presently hinder the widespread introduction of renewable, sustainable energy systems.

Current Projects

Catalysts for Treating Automotive Exhaust

This work involves fabrication and characterization of catalytic reducible rare earth oxides at the nanoscopic level. Effort has been focused on synthesizing CeO₂-ZrO₂ nanoparticles with discrete crystalline faces.

Principal investigator: Dr. Ruigang Wang
Solid Electrolytes for Intermediate Temperature Fuel Cells

Emphasis is on developing solid electrolytes that can conduct hydrogen ions at 300°C without degradation. Current studies involve conductivity of rare-earth metaphosphates such as LaPO₄ doped with Ca.

Principal investigator: Dr. Ruigang Wang
Development of Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

This is a study of uptake and release of Li+ from iron phosphate, FePO₄. The rate of discharge and Li-ion capacity can be related to the spatial arrangement of crystalline planes and the individual atoms in the cathode particles.

Principal investigator: Dr. Ruigang Wang
Metal-Organic Framework Compounds for Gas Stream Separation and Purification

Metal-Organic Framework compounds, or MOFs, are being developed to selectively remove CO₂, CO, and H₂S from mixed gases. Selected structures are being synthesized by hydrothermal techniques and characterized as to their pore size and adsorption energy.

Principal investigator: Dr. Sherri Lovelace-Cameron
Solid Electrolytes for High Temperature Fuel Cells

The present work is concentrating on developing corrosion-resistant electrode materials that would enable a solid oxide fuel cell based on yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) to function at 750°C and derive electricity from landfill gas.

Principal investigator: Dr. Clovis Linkous
Developing Semiconductor Materials for Photovoltaic and Photoelectrochemical Cells

Current research efforts are attempting to identify semiconductors that can satisfy performance requirements related to optical absorption, photoconductivity, and corrosion resistance, so that they can enable effective conversion of sunlight into electricity and storage as molecular hydrogen, H₂(g).

Principal investigator: Dr. Clovis Linkous
Aluminum Cable Development for Electric/Hybrid Vehicles

Aluminum cable is a cost-effective, lightweight wiring alternative for personal and commercial vehicles which offers up to 48% mass reduction compared to traditional copper conductor cable, without sacrificing conductivity. This YSU-Delphi Automotive collaborative research seeks to develop materials and processes necessary to produce aluminum shielded large size/battery cables.

Principal investigator: Dr. Virgil C. Solomon

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