Professor
CERC Theme Leader
Office: CHBE 201
Email: elod.gyenge@ubc.ca
Research Summary
Electrochemical Engineering and Electrocatalysis, Fuel Cells, Batteries, Electrosynthesis, Porous Electrodes, Interfacial Phenomena, Engineering Education
Education
University of British Columbia, 2001, Ph.D.
University of British Columbia, 1995, M.A.Sc.
University of Babes-Bolyai, 1990, M.Eng.
Research interests + projects
The commercial development of many electrochemical systems, including a variety of fuel cells, batteries and electrosynthesis processes, is hampered by kinetically sluggish electrode reactions. The mission of our research program is to discover and develop highly active, durable and cost-effective electrocatalysts and to integrate the catalyst with the electrode and cell design in order to develop high-performance electrochemical devices and processes. To accomplish our mission we deploy a multi-pronged approach combining novel electrocatalyst synthesis methods with fundamental electrochemical and surface science studies followed by electrode and cell engineering investigations and innovations. Systems of interest include: diverse fuel cells (H2, borohydride, methanol, formic acid), metal-air and novel redox flow batteries (e.g., using CO2), hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis, graphene electrochemical synthesis and applications, CO2-based power sources. The group is involved in extensive industrial and international research activities with collaborators from Japan, France, Germany and USA.
Current research is focused on the following areas: a) Development of bifunctional / multifunctional electrodes for complex electrocatalytic reactions (e.g., CO2 reduction / formate oxidation, O2 reduction / evolution, etc.), b) Gas-diffusion electrode engineering, c) Electrocatalytic upgrading of biomass (specifically lignin derivatives), d) Halogen-based redox couples for flow batteries.
Awards and honours
Gould Teaching Endowment, 2007 – 2014
Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellow , 2009
Scholarly and professional activities + affiliations
International Society of Electrochemistry
Chemical Institute of Canada (CSChE & CSCAffiliate)
Full Publication List
Selected publications + presentations
E.L. Gyenge, ‘Redox Flow Battery with Carbon Dioxide based Redox Couple’ US Patent 10,854,906, 12/01 (2020).
F.D. Mayer, P. Hosseini-Benhangi, C.M. Sanchez-Sanchez, E. Asselin, E.L. Gyenge, ‘Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy Screening of CO2 Electroreduction Activities and Selectivites of Catalyst Arrays’, Communications Chemistry (Nature Publishing Group), 3, 1-9 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-020-00399-6
Y.Dong, et al., ‘Ammonia Thermal Treatment toward Topological Defects in Porous Carbon for Enhanced CO2 Electroreduction’, Advanced Materials, 32, 2001300 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202001300
Y.P. Wijaya, R.D. Putra, K.J. Smith, C.S. Kim, E.L. Gyenge, ‘Guaiacol Hydrogenation in Methanesulfonic Acid using a Stirred Slurry Electrocatalytic Reactor’, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 9, 13164-13175 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c03332
W.Li, A. Bonakdarpour, E.L. Gyenge, D.P. Wilkinson, ‘Production of Hydrogen Peroxide for Drinking Water Treatment in a PEM Electrolyzer at Near-Neutral pH’, J.Electrochem.Soc. 167, 044502 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ab6fee