The Applied Electrochemistry Group (AEG) of the Technological University Dublin carries out research in electrochemistry, with special emphasis being placed on practical aspects of the subject. It has four Principal Investigators; Professor John Cassidy, Dr Tony Betts, Dr John Colleran and Dr Ben Schazmann. The Group is based in the FOCAS Research Institute in Camden Row, Dublin 8.
Electrochemistry is a multidisciplinary field that was originally an important branch of physical chemistry. It deals with the chemical action of electricity and/or the production of electricity by chemical reactions.
A diverse range of important applications exist, including;
- Electroanalytical Chemistry: This enables chemical or even biological species to be identified and quantified, often through the development and operation of electrochemical sensors.
- Bioelectrochemistry: The study of electrochemical reactions in biological systems is of immense importance in the biological and health (medical) sciences.
- Materials Science and Nanotechnology: This concerns materials performance issues such as corrosion prevention and mitigation and the development of new materials. Often using a nanotechnology approach, devices such electrochromic displays (which change colour upon the imposition of an electrical potential) and molecular electronics such as memristive switching devices are examples.
- Electrical Energy: Devices providing electrical power such as batteries, fuel cells and other electrochemical systems are becoming increasingly important, offering an alternative to fossil fuel use. Capturing Solar Energy using light to produce electricity and/or to effect chemical change (through use of semiconductors and photoelectrochemistry) is also of major interest.
- Surface Science: Techniques such as electrodeposition and anodic surface film alteration (anodising of metals such as aluminium, magnesium and titanium and electropolishing) can produce thin films with specially tailored properties to suit a particular application.
- Environmental and Green Electrochemistry: This encompasses requirements such as heavy metal remediation, industrial effluent (wastewater) control and the use of novel ionic liquids to replace hazardous chemicals such as organic solvents in various chemical processes.
- Organic and Industrial Electrochemistry: Methods such as electrosynthesis offer a means of producing many industrially important inorganic and organic chemicals.
Recent graduate students from the AEG include Dr Anna Banasiak, Dr Emma Brennan, Dr Kevin Raheem, Dr Prabhakar Sidambaram and Dr Rafaela de Carvalho, who conducted a range of projects in the electrochemistry field in several of the above areas. Current PhD students include Kevin Joe Kurian and Pei-Hsuang Wu (co-supervised by Dr Bernie Creaven of the School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences).
Recent publications from members of the AEG are listed in the TU Dublin ARROW repository.
Expressions of interest from potential postgraduate students or post-doctoral researchers considering in working in one of these important research areas are always welcome.