Our research spans the synthesis, structural characterization, and property measurement of materials used as electrodes, electrolytes, and support structures for electrochemical energy storage and power systems — with active projects on grid-scale aqueous batteries, green hydrogen production, and biomass valorization for advanced carbon electrodes.
Our Three-Pronged Approach
Theory & Modeling
- Mechanistic charge-transfer and mass transport modeling
- Computational design of high entropy alloys for electrocatalysis
Materials Synthesis & Characterization
- PGM-free catalysts, Ni-Co-Mo and Ir-based nano-alloys, HEAs
- Biomass-derived carbon electrodes (Muscadine grape pomace)
Device-Level Testing
- Custom cells for alkaline, seawater & liquid-fuel electrolysis
- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, CV, long-term cycling
Current Focus Areas
Expanding the voltage stability window of aqueous Mn-based batteries and elucidating Mn coordination chemistry in selected ligands to improve cyclability for grid-wide energy storage.
Stanford Aqueous Battery Consortium (ABC)Developing PGM-free catalysts and using impedance spectroscopy to reveal HER mechanisms, dielectric and transport behavior, and corrosion pathways that enable long-life alkaline electrolyzers.
DOE-fundedDirect electrolysis of seawater, chemical hydrides, and biofuels (methanol, ethanol, glycerol, ammonia borane, NaBH₄) to generate clean hydrogen and high-value chemicals.
Computational identification, synthesis, and characterization of transition-metal HEAs for water splitting, battery electrodes, and corrosion-resistant electrocatalysts.
Exploring non-Pt catalysts — and alternative electrode reactions — to reduce potential losses at the oxygen electrode in liquid fuel cells.
Valorizing V. rotundifolia (Muscadine) grape pomace into high-performance carbon electrode materials for supercapacitors and Li-ion batteries.