Direct liquid fuel cells are considered an ideal electrochemical energy device to supplement Li-batteries in some special applications, due to the higher energy density of liquid fuel, quiet operation, and independent of charging plugs. We are interested in develop direct carbohydrazide fuel cells with high power density and high energy and fuel efficiency. Now we are investigating electrochemical reaction mechanisms of carbohydrazide, hydrazine and ammonia over different types of catalysts in various conditions, and exploring efficient anode catalyst materials, with the ultimate goal of developing novel carbohydrazide fuel cell technologies.
Sponsor: Iowa Reagents Innovation Fund (RIF)
Wenzhen Li Research Group
Electrochemistry / Catalysis / Energy
/ Environment / Agriculture / Sustainability
Principal Investigator
Dr. Wenzhen Li
Herbert L. Stiles Faculty Fellow
Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering Department
Associate Scientist, DOE Ames Lab
2140 Biorenewables Research Laboratory (BRL)
Iowa State University
Tel: 515-294-4582, Email: wzli@iastate.edu
Education:
Ph.D Physical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics,
Chinese Academy of Science, 2004
Dissertation advisors: Prof. Qin Xin & Prof. Gongqun Sun
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 1998
Thesis adsivor: Prof. Can Li
Postdoctoral Researchers
Graduate Students
Yifu Chen, Ph.D. candidate, 2017-present
Education:
B.S. Chemistry, Peking University, China, 2017
Research: Electrochemical ammonia synthesis, Innovative HER and OER catalysis
Email: yfchen@iastate.edu
Basil Rawah, Ph.D. candidate, 2017-present
Education:
M.S. Chemical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 2017
B.S. Chemical Engineering, King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia, 2010
Research: Electrochemical production of H2O2 and activation of hydrocarbons, Environmental electrocatalysis
Email: bsr23@iastate.edu
Ting-Han Lee, Ph.D. candidate, 2017-present
Education:
B.S. Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan, 2016
Research: Electrochemical synthesis of chemicals; paired electrolyzers (co-advised by Dr. Eric Cochran)
Email: thlee@iastate.edu
Hengzhou Liu, Ph.D. student, 2018-present
Education:
M.S. Nano-Engineering, UCSD, 2018
B.S. Chemistry, Chongqing University, 2016
Research: Electrochemical reduction of nitrate, Paired electrolyzers
Email: hel094@iastate.edu
Mohammod Albloushi, M.S. student, 2020-present
Education:
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2020
Research: Electrosynthesis of H2O2 in flow cells
Email: mbhador@iastate.edu
Open Positions: Two GTA positions in the areas of CO2 reduction and selective oxidation (starting from fall 2021), and welcome self-motivated students to apply.
Undergraduate Students (recent 2 years)
Dexter Clark since spring 2017, Co-advised with Prof. Robert Brown Electrochemical thermal cell
James Trettin Spring, Fall 2019, Griswold research internship Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia
James Lanasa Spring 2020, ChE 490 research Electrochemical Reduction of CO2
Grayson Tran Fall 2020, Griswold research internship Electrochemical Reduction of CO2
Group Photos
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Alumni
PhD
Dr. Xiaotong Han Chadderdon 2018 spring, PhD: dissertation: Electrochemical Conversion of Biomass-derived Furanics for Production of Renewable Chemicals and Fuels
Current position: Research Engineer in Energizer, Cleveland, OH
Dr. Yang Qiu 2018 spring, PhD dissertation: Rational Design of Advanced Electrocatalysis for Oxygen and Hydrogen Reactions in Fuel Cells and Water Electrolyzers
Current position: Postdoc, Pacific Northwestern National Lab, DOE
Dr. Neeva Benipal 2017 spring PhD dissertation: Electrocatalytic Conversion of Birenewable Feedstocks for Electricity and Chemicals Cogeneration in Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Current position: Research Engineer, California EPA, Sacramento, CA
Dr. Ji Qi 2016 spring PhD dissertation: Electrocatalysts Design for Selective Oxidation of Organic Molecules in High-Performance Fuel Cell
Current position: Assistant Professor at Dalian University of Technology, China
Dr. Le Xin 2014 spring PhD dissertation: Electrocatalytic Processing of Renewable Biomass-Derived Compounds for Production of Chemicals, Fuels and Electricity
Current position: Research Scientist, Sigma-Millipore, Milwaukee, WI
Dr. Zhiyong Zhang 2012 fall PhD dissertation: Advanced Nanostructured Electro-Catalysts for Electricity Generation and Biorenewable Alcohol Conversion
Current position: Research Associate, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
MS
Joseph Watkins, M.S. 2019 fall
Research: Electrochemical oxidation of N-containing compounds for fuel cells
Mohsen Torabi-Dizaji, M.S, 2019 spring
Research: Redox Flow Battery for Energy Storage
Current position: GRA in Civil Engineering, ISU
Mr. Sean Gassen, M.S. 2018 fall
Research: Direct Carbohydrazide Fuel Cell
Current position: Regulatory Consultant, EcoEngineers, Des Moines, IA
Mr. Zhichao Wang M.S. 2012 fall
PhD: Adrienne Minerick group, Michigan Tech
Current position: US Army
Mr. Olumide Wijobi M.S. 2010 fall
Research: Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) supported Pt and Pd Alloy Nanoparticles for Formic Acid Oxidation Reaction (FAOR)
PhD: David Shonnard group, Michigan Tech
Current position: Postodoc Researcher, Argonne National Lab, DOE
Postdoc Researchers
Dr. Yang Qiu 2018 Jun - 2019 Feb. Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia, Electrochemical Reduction of Nitrate, Alkaline Electrolyte Hydrogen Oxidation
Current position: Postdoc Researcher at DOE PNNL
Dr. Le Xin 2017 May - 2018 April, Electrochemical Synthesis of Ammonia
Current position: Staff Scientist at Sigma-Millipore
Dr. Peiqiang Li 2016 Sept- 2017 Mar., Electrochemical CO2 reduction
Current position: Associate Professor at Shangdong Agricultural University, China
Dr. Kwiyong Kim, 2018 Aug - 2019 Mar, Electrosynthesis of ammonia
Current position: Postdoc researcher at Chemical and Biological Engineering, UIUC.
Undergraduates
Totally more than 40 undergraduate students had been trained in Dr. Li Lab at Iowa State and Michigan Tech since 2008.
