Designing Organic Redox-Flow Batteries for Grid-Scale Energy Storage and CO2 Capture

David Kwabi, PhD is currently an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan

Dr. Kwabi’s lecture will be part of the 2024 St. Elmo Brady Symposium. Additional symposium information can be found under the ‘2024 St. Elmo Brady Symposium’ tab or by clicking this link.

Seminar Abstract:

Avoiding the most severe consequences of climate change will require drastic reductions in net anthropogenic CO2 emissions. These reductions can be achieved by increasing the pace at which carbon-free/renewable power is adopted to replace fossil fuel-based power, capturing and permanently sequestering CO2 away from the atmosphere, or both. Certain technological developments are required for either strategy to be widely deployed. Because renewable (e.g. solar and wind) power is intermittently available, cost-effective storage technologies are critically needed so that it can be extensively deployed on the grid. CO2 capture technology must likewise be cheap and energy-efficient while enabling high rates of CO2 uptake from point and distributed sources. Electrochemical devices are promising candidates for both tasks, as they can store electrical energy in the form of batteries and enable selective separation processes – in the latter case, without the Carnot efficiency limit that conventional thermal separation methods face. In this talk, I will discuss our group’s recent progress in using numerical modeling and statistical inference techniques to understand the performance of organic redox-flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage. I will also discuss how these techniques can be extended to understanding the fundamental and practical performance limits of a new electrochemical CO2 capture scheme driven by reversible pH swings created by proton-coupled electron transfer in aqueous electrolytes.

Biography: David Kwabi is an assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, respectively, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University. His group designs and studies electrochemical devices for applications in energy storage and environmental remediation, with a special emphasis on resource recovery and climate change mitigation.

Ionic Liquids, GUMBOS, and NanoGUMBOS: A Materials Approach to Analytical Chemistry

Isiah M. Warner, PhD is currently a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati; as well as Boyd Professor Emeritus of Louisiana State University

Seminar Abstract:

In recent years, much of my research has focused in the general area of analytical applications of ionic liquids where ionic liquids are defined as organic salts whose melting points are below 100 °C. The unique and tunable properties of ionic liquids have garnered much attention, primarily because of their low melting points, ease of syntheses, and unique solvation properties. However, ionic liquids whose melting points are above room temperature are solid phase materials and are often described as frozen ionic liquids. My research over the past few years has involved the application of ionic liquids in both the liquid and solid phase. In regard to solid phase ionic liquids, my research has demonstrated the unique properties of solid phase organic salts with the unique tunability of ionic liquids. In describing these materials, we have coined the acronym, GUMBOS, i.e. a group of uniform materials based on organic salts. We have also designated such materials as having the expanded melting point range of 25 °C to 250 °C. Since these materials have similar tunability to ionic liquids, they can best be described as designer solid phase materials. In this talk, I will describe my recent studies using ionic liquids and GUMBOS. The unique properties and applications of nanomaterials derived from GUMBOS, i.e. nanoGUMBOS, will also be highlighted. We note that in combining the distinct tunability of ionic liquids with the well-documented applications of nanoparticles, we have engineered a new class of nanomaterials with wide general applicability. Several applications of traditional ionic liquids, GUMBOS, and nanoGUMBOS will be highlighted with applications in the areas of medicine, sensors, and material science.

– Dr. Isiah Warner, November 2023

Biography: Now an Emeritus Professor of Louisiana State University, Dr. Warner has decades of experience in material, analytical, and environmental chemistry. His expertise lies in the area of fluorescence spectroscopy, where his research has focused for nearly 44 years. Recently he has made waves in conceptualizing and implementing a group of uniform materials based on organic salts (GUMBOS) as novel materials, and by using ionic liquids in separation sciences. Professor Warner has conducted extensive educational research that focuses on mechanisms for maintaining and enhancing student education in STEM, with a particular emphasis on encouraging under-represented students (women and minorities) to pursue STEM terminal degrees.

We will celebrate our graduates and all students who supported our events with an end-of-year celebration on May 1 at 5pm in Davenport Hall 279. We will have switch games, pizza, cake, coffee and drinks, and play trivia led by our undergraduate liaisons! 

All graduating members should scan the code or visit tinyurl.com/nobcchegrads to receive special recognition during the event!

Thank you to all who attended our Earth Day event and learned about green chemistry, environmental racism, and terrarium making!

Our Undergraduate Liaisons Matthew and Aidan will hold a study night for CHEM 102/202 students after the break, on Nov 28th at 6pm in the chemistry majors’ room in the basement of Noyes, room 19

Our annual Friendsgiving Potluck with SACNAS will be at the Native American House on Nov 16th starting at 6:30pm. Please let us know if you will attend AND what food, drink, or utensil item you will bring using the link below!

RSVP at tinyurl.com/nobcchexsacnas

Are you interested in graduate school and wondering how to craft a competitive application? NOBCChE will be hosting a Grad School Application Workshop on October 17^th at 5pm.

Patricia Simpson, Director of Academic Advising and Career Services in SCS, will speak about different types of graduate programs in SCS and beyond.

Grad students from NOBCChE, NSBE, SACNAS, and WCC will be there to read through and give feedback on any drafts of personal statements, CVs, and any other documents that you may have prepared!

Dinner will be provided, so please RSVP! The link to RSVP is here: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/92564640

Stop by CLSL B124 on Tuesday Sept 5 at 6pm for pizza and board games with NOBCChE. The food and games are free and open to everyone!!

MONTHLY COFFEE this Wednesday @ Caffe Bene Urbana. See you there!!

Join us for an ice cream/frozen yogurt social hosted by our Undergraduate Liasons!

Friday, July 21st @ Cocomero!! (Corner of Wright & Green) All are welcome to attend.

We will be in attendance at the 2023 National NOBCChE Conference! You can find us presenting our research; and recruiting at the Career & Academic Fair.