Nanomaterials for Heterogeneous Catalysis Towards Sustainable Environment
Prof. Kevin Huang
University of South Carolina – Columbia, USA
Date: July 10, 2018 (Tuesday)
Time: 10:00-11:00
Venue: The conference room of Biotechnology Building
Abstract:
Sustainable future calls for energy-efficient and cost-effective means of capturing CO2 emitted from large-scale fossil fuel power plants and converting the captured CO2 into higher-value products. The state-of-the-art carbon capture technologies are based on reversible chemical/physical absorption/adsorption processes. A grand challenge to these technologies is the high cost and energy penalties. Developing advanced alternative carbon capture technologies is, therefore, highly desirable. Electrochemical membranes based on mixed conductors are an emerging technology for advanced carbon capture and conversion. In this presentation, the presenter reviews recent progress in his group using dual-phase mixed conducting membranes to capture CO2 and instantly convert it into useful products at high temperatures. New concepts such as single reactor dry/dry-oxy reforming of methane and oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane with the capture CO2 will also be presented.
Short CV:
Kevin Huang is currently an endowed chair professor and director of SmartState Center for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells at College of Engineering and Computing. His research, currently funded by NSF, DOE, DoD and industry, focuses on experimental and theoretical studies of electrochemical materials and engineering for energy conversion and storage, ranging from batteries, fuel cells to separation membranes. Over his professional career, he has published two books, two book chapter and >190 peer-reviewed journal papers and been granted with 12 US patents. Kevin graduated from University of Science and Technology Beijing in 1992, conducted his postdoc research in Prof. John B. Goodenough’s group at University of Texas at Austin from 1995-2000 and worked as a senior, principal and fellow engineer at Siemens Energy from 2000-2010 before joining University of South Carolina (USC) in 2010. Over his 8 years at USC, he has attracted over $5.5 million research funding. He is a recipient of 2018 USC Breakthrough Leadership Award, 2017 USC Educational Foundation Award for Research in Science, Engineering and Mathematics, 2015 College of Engineering and Computing Research Achievement Award, and 2014 University Breakthrough Stars.
