The battery is probably the world’s most ubiquitous electrochemical device, and the most familiar. From our cars (even the standard combustion-engine kind) to our phones to a collection of other devices, batteries give us power on the move. But they’re far from the only electrochemical device the world relies on to run smoothly. In addition to building better batteries, our researchers are using electrochemistry to improve metals production, manufacture state-of-the-future microprocessors and advance green energy.
Electrochemical devices either generate electricity from a chemical reaction (like a battery) or use electrical energy to cause a chemical reaction (like a catalyst). Our researchers are making discoveries in both spheres to make advances in energy storage, manufacturing and more. They are designing batteries that can store and release intermittent forms of energy harvested from renewable sources like wind and solar. They’re lowering the cost of producing metals like titanium and aluminum—critical components for the aerospace and renewable energy industries. They’re developing more efficient catalysts for green energy systems and using electrolysis to improve production of the microprocessors that will power next-generation electronics. We collaborate with scientists from across the university through the Great Lakes Energy Institute, and our close ties with industry give our researchers the opportunity to work with corporate partners on solutions that meet the challenges of the real world.
Institutes, centers and labs related to Electrochemical Devices
Faculty who conduct research in Electrochemical Devices
Rohan Akolkar
Develops new electrochemical processes for applications including nano-material fabrication, energy storage, electrometallurgy and sensors
Hoda Amani Hamedani
Develops multifunctional materials and flexible nanostructured platforms for electrochemical and biomedical devices, localized drug delivery, neural interfacing, and electrochemical sensing; studies nanomaterials evolution/interactions in controlled (liquid) environments using in-situ characterization techniques
Uzi Landau
Designs advanced electrochemical systems and processes
Chung-Chiun Liu
Develops chemical and biomedical sensors for single-use, cost-effective measurements
Heidi Martin
Develops diamond electrodes for electrochemical and neural device applications
Julie Renner
Develops biomolecular platforms to control solid-liquid interfaces and enable a new generation of advanced technologies
Publications
Robert Savinell
Develops high-performance electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies through fundamental and applied studies of interfacial and transport processes
Jesse Wainright
Develops novel electrochemical systems for grid-level energy conversion and storage