Staff

Dr. Higgins will address important aspects of CO₂R catalyst development, including alloying and surface structure engineering approaches to tune activity and selectivity. He will discuss the remaining challenges facing artificial photosynthesis technology deployment, along with preliminary results for the integration of CO₂R catalysts into practical device prototypes.

Professor Rojas will introduce the vision of the future “Materials Bioeconomy” of Finland by way of the recently funded Aalto-VTT Flagship that is designed to catalyze fundamental research that will lead to scientific as well as economic impacts.

In the chemical process industry, the need to make decisions in a context of multiple and competing objectives is frequent. Thanks to advances in the field of operational research and systems science, several methods of multi-objective optimization have emerged that can be applied to chemical and biochemical engineering processes. These techniques incorporate the knowledge of an expert of a given process to the optimization routine, which provides valuable information about the domain of optimal solutions.

Supervisor: Michael Fowler, Chemical Engineering

Grad Students: Please join Professor Abukhdeir in the Staff & Faculty Lounge for some coffee/tea*, cookies and conversation.

* Bring your own mug. Coffee, tea and cookies are on us.

Supervisors: Aiping Yu, Chemical Engineering and Michael Fowler, Chemical Engineering

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a useful technique for studying electronic and structural properties of materials. When these measurements are performed in-situ, it is valuable to identify the reactive species and monitor the reaction kinetics. This could significantly improve our understanding of material property and advance the rational design of material with improved performance.

Interested in learning more about the fascinating research that Waterloo's chemical engineering graduate students are conducting? Now is your chance!

Join us at the Master's Research Colloquium, where master's students will present their research throughout the day.

POSTER SESSION: 9:15-10:15 am in the 1st and 3rd floor atriums

PRESENTATIONS: 

Session 1

Group A, Process Systems Engineering: E6 2024 10:30-11:30 am

Group B, Biochemical & Biomedical Engineering: E6 2022 10:30-11:15 am

Abstract
Driven by the growing need for clean and sustainable energy sources, a number of carbon-neutral energy conversion technologies have been extensively explored over recent years, which include photo- and electrocatalytic water-splitting systems, fuel cells, and metal ion batteries. In particular, water electrolysis, consisting of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), is considered a promising and efficient way to produce a clean energy carrier, hydrogen, to meet such energy demands. Green hydrogen produced by renewable-energy-powered water electrolysis could help resolve the energy crisis and cut our carbon footprint at the same time.

Abstract: Dehumidification accounts for a substantial fraction of energy use and associated emissions in air‑conditioning systems, representing roughly 53% of energy‑related air conditioning emissions on a global average. Vapor-selective membranes, which preferentially transport water molecules while blocking the transport of other gases, have emerged as a promising alternative technology for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, even being ranked as a top alternative technology by the US Department of Energy. Over the past 20 years, the field has seen a significant amount of research interest in the development of high-performance membrane materials and synthesis procedures. However, translation of these materials advances into practical HVAC systems has largely relied on idealized thermodynamic system models, with a notable lack in experimental demonstration. As a result, a disconnect persists between membrane material development, component-level limitations, and realistic system and process design. This seminar presents our ongoing work aimed at bridging this gap by explicitly linking real membrane properties to component sizing, operating constraints, and system‑level efficiency. The broader goal of this research is to establish a holistic framework that integrates materials, components, and system design to clarify tradeoffs, define benchmark performance targets, and guide future research and development towards the broader adoption of high-efficiency, membrane-based HVAC technologies.