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The University of Southampton
Engineering

Fuel Cells and Batteries

The research interests of the Electrochemical Engineering Laboratory range from synthesis and characterisation of new electrode materials through to the design of industrial electrochemical reactors, especially redox flow batteries for energy storage, fuel cells and electrochemical processes.

The Electrochemical Engineering Laboratory collaborates closely with the Materials Engineering Research Group, the National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton and the Electrochemistry and Surface Science Group.  The Laboratory is routinely involved in consultancy (via the Research Institute for Industry) and research projects as well as short courses. Expertise and research interests include: (a) energy conversion (development of improved redox flow cell components for batteries such as: soluble lead-acid, vanadium-vanadium and zinc-cerium cells), (b) engineering of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), characterization of membrane and electrode materials for PEMFCs, (c) improvements in electrocatalysts for direct borohydride fuel cells, (d) electrochemical reactor design and reaction environment in electrochemical cells, (e) nanomaterials for energy conversion: synthesis, microscopy and electrochemistry of nanostructured titanium dioxide, protonated titanates and other transition metal oxides. (as hydrogen storage media and as electrocatalyst supports for borohydride and other fuel cells), (e) corrosion of metals, coatings and surface engineering, (f) marine corrosion engineering and flow simulation, (g) mass transport, potential distribution and fluid dispersion in electrochemical reactors, (h) selection and deployment of electroplated and anodised coatings (especially nanostructured and composite types) for the engineering and electronics industries, and (i) current-, flow- and potential distributions in rotating, porous and three-dimensional electrodes.

Redox flow batteries; three scales of electrochemical reactor modules for energy storage using redox flow cell techmology.
Redox flow batteries
Titanate nanotubes as a material support for catalysts
Titanate nanotubes
Lead dioxide deposited in a reticulated 3-dimensional electrode used for the oxidation of organic molecules in wastewater remediation
Lead dioxide
  • Potentiostats & Galvanostats,
  • Electronic loads,
  • Fuel cell rig,
  • Electrochemical cells, pumps and rigs,
  • Hydrogen adsorption,
  • Rotating cylinder and disc electrodes,
  • Flow cells for electrolysis and batteries and
  • Zero resistance ammeter.

 

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