Applied Electrochemistry
Electrochemistry is about the interconversion between energy in chemical and electric form. It finds its use in direct production of electricity from a raw material, as in batteries and fuel cells, and for the production of chemical products and metals in electrolytic processes. It can also be used in sensors and other methods for chemical analysis. Many of the great problems and challenges that the world is facing are connected to how to get energy and how to use our resources in the best possible way, and it is very likely that new and improved electrochemical systems will play an increasingly important part in their solution.
The Applied Electrochemistry group is a part of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology at KTH. We are about 20 employees working with research and teaching. A large part of the employees are postgraduate students doing research for a Ph.D. or licentiate degree. Research in Applied Electrochemistry is directed mainly towards electrochemical power sources (lithium batteries, nickel- metal hydride batteries, molten carbonate fuel cells, polymer electrolyte fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells) and electroytic processes.
A common theme in the different research projects is the mathematical modelling and electrochemical characterisation of electrochemical systems. Of special importance is the development and application of porous electrode theories for battery electrodes and gas diffusion fuel cell electrodes. Studies of mass transport in liquid and polymer electrolytes are another important and frequent activity in the research programme. The development of dynamic electrochemical methods and models for studies of electrode kinetics. mass transport, porous electrodes and materials is also important.
The research activities in the group are concerning power sources (secondary batteries and fuel cells) and electrolytic processes. Descriptions of the different projects can be found in the links below to the KTH Research Project Database.
Fuel cells
Three different kinds of fuel cells are studied:
- Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC)
- Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC)
- Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC)
The electrochemical properties of the fuel cells and the components are characterised experimentally and by means of mathematical models.
Project: Polymer electrolyte fuel cells
Reseachers:
Henrik Ekström, Nicklas Holmström, Katrin Kortsdottir, Sophie von Kraemer, Göran Lindbergh, Anders Lundblad, Thomas Tingelöf, Katarina Wiezell
Project: Direct methanol fuel cells
Reseachers: Carina Lagergren, Göran Lindbergh, Thomas Vernersson
Project: Molten carbonate fuel cells
Reseachers: Carina Lagergren, Göran Lindbergh, Sara Randström
Secondary Batteries
The research on secondary batteries is focussed on two battery types: lithium-ion batteries and sodium/metal chloride batteries (ZEBRA-batteries).The overall aim of these projects is twofold:
the development of lithium-ion batteries with better performance,
e.g. higher energy and power density and improved life-time, as well as improved understanding on how to use state-of-the-art batteries in the best possible way in advanced applications like hybrid electric vehicles.
Project: Secondary batteries. Lithium-ion batteries
Reseachers: Mårten Behm, Shelley Brown, Göran Lindbergh, Andreas Nyman
Project: The ZEBRA battery
Reseachers: Mårten Behm, Göran Lindbergh, Ivan Rexed
Electrolytic Processes
The research is concerned with electrowinning of metals, chlorate production and water purification with ion-exchange assisted electrodialysis.
Project: Electrolytic processes
Reseachers: Mårten Behm, Ann Cornell, John Gustavsson, Carina Lagergren, Göran Lindbergh, Linda Nylén, Maria Wesselmark
Electrolytic treatment of cancer
Project: Electrolytic treatment of cancer
Electrolytic treatment of cancer has received increased attention recently. It is a new and different area compared to traditional electrochemical applications.
Reseachers: Göran Lindbergh, Mårten Behm
