Research Interests

Shangfeng Du is Senior Lecturer leading research activities in low temperature fuel cells and electrolysers. His research interests lie in electrochemical engineering study of materials, components and devices. Research is also carried on the characterisation of adhesion and aggregation of nanoparticles for health and energy applications.

Research Themes

• Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs).
• Low temperature water electrolysers.
• Liquid fuelled fuel cells.
• Microbial fuel cells (MFCs).
• Zinc-air fuel cells/batteries.

Research activities

• Catalyst and electrode design:
  • 1D nanostructures from PGM and non-PGM, carbonaceous materials and metal oxides.
  • Ionic liquid modification of catalysts and electrodes.
  • Electrode structure design, e.g. 3D ordered nanostructure, 1D nanostructure array electrodes.
• Electrochemical engineering behaviour:
  • Quantification and separation of mass transport resistance within catalyst electrodes.
  • Nanoparticle behaviour in electrodes, e.g. adhesion between ionomer, particle aggregation, surface adsorption, etc.
• Device and stack building:
  • Composite membrane design for low fuel crossover.
  • Flow field plate design and surface coating.
  • Stack design and building.
• Electrochemical sensors:
  • Electrochemical fuel cell breathalysers.
  • Microbial fuel cell sensors for water and wastewater monitoring.