Előd Gyenge

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

The Electrochemical Society

American Chemical Society

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). 

Y.Dong, et al., ‘Ammonia Thermal Treatment toward Topological Defects in Porous Carbon for Enhanced CO2 Electroreduction’, Advanced Materials, 32, 2001300 (2020). 

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). 

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)