CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Jesse S. Wainright

Ph.D. Case Western Reserve University (1992)
President, Cleveland Local Sec. of the Electrochemical Society (1999)
Invited Speaker, Gordon Conference on Fuel Cells (2001)

Associate Research Professor

email: jsw7@case.edu
office: A.W. Smith, room 30
tel: (216) 368 - 5382

Focus

The research in my group is focused on the development of electrochemical power sources - fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors.

Research

The research in my group revolves around electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering, in particular as applied to polymer electrolyte fuel cells, supercapacitors, and batteries. All aspects of these devices are considered; from high-level system models to development of new electrolytes and catalysts to fundamental studies of proton conduction and oxygen reduction. Many of our recent research efforts have focused on the production of small fuel cells and batteries using microfabrication techniques. Four of the current programs are detailed below.

• Rechargeable Cryogenic Liquid Oxygen Storage and Delivery System for a Fuel Cell Powered Underwater Vehicles
  In collaboration with Sierra Lobo and Isotherm Technologies, a software package has been developed to allow the US Navy to optimally integrate fuel cells with cryogenic storage of oxygen and hydrogen. In a Phase II program beginning this year, Sierra Lobo and CWRU will build and test a 1/10th scale prototype of the integrated system.
• An Integrated Micro Fuel Cell / Silicon CMOS / Sensor Technology
  In collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology, this program is developing the technology necessary to co-fabricate fuel cells with microelectronic circuits on silicon. New polymer electrolytes are being developed for vapor feed direct methanol fuel cells as part of this effort.
• A Test Stand for Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Powertrains
  Hybrid cars, which use a combination of batteries, electric motors and small internal combustion (IC) engines, are currently being introduced. A state of the art facility at CWRU is being developed for research into the dynamics and control of these hybrid drivetrains, as well as for future hybrid systems in which fuel cells replace the IC engine.
• Implantable Power Systems for Networked Neuroprosthesis
  Medical researchers in Cleveland have made tremendous advances in the use of electrical stimulation to restore muscle function to people with spinal cord injuries. The next generation of these stimulators will require electrical power sources (batteries, bio fuel cells) that can be implanted in the human body. In collaboration with the Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Center we are evaluating commercial implant grade Li-ion batteries, and developing an alternative battery concept specifically designed for implantation.

Selected Publications

'Catalytic Activity for Oxygen Reduction of Catalysts Consisting of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Cobalt'
G. Wei, J. S. Wainright, and R. F. Savinell, J. New Matl. for Electrochemical Systems, 3, 121, 2000.

'High Pressure Electrical Conductivity Studies Of Acid Doped Polybenzimidazole'
J. J. Fontanella, M. C. Wintersgill, J.S. Wainright, R.F. Savinell, M.H. Litt, Electrochimica Acta, 43, 1289, 1998.

'Kinetics of O₂ Reduction on a Pt Electrode Covered with a Thin Film of Solid Polymer Electrolyte'
S. K. Zecevic, J. S. Wainright, M. H. Litt, S. Lj. Gojkovic, R. F. Savinell, J. Electrochem. Soc., 144, 2973, 1997.

'Acid Doped Polybenzimidazoles: A New Polymer Electrolyte'
J.S. Wainright, J-T. Wang, D. Weng, R. F. Savinell and M. Litt J. Electrochem. Soc., 142, L121, 1995.

'AC Impedance Investigations of Proton Conduction in Nafion'
B. D. Cahan and J. S. Wainright, J. Electrochem. Soc., 140, L185, (1993).