Ann Cornell

Applied electrochemistry concerns transforming chemical energy into electricity, and vice versa. In other words, what happens in a battery when it is discharged or charged. A general aim of the research is to get these transformations to take place as effectively as possible. This is done by understanding where in the electrochemical process the greatest energy losses occur, and how these can be reduced.

Electrode materials are central to this research. The structure and chemical composition of electrodes are of great significance to how easily the electrochemical reactions take place. By, for instance, custom building porous electrodes from catalytic material with a large active surface, reaction speeds can be increased. It is also important for the "right" reactions to take place. One way of achieving this is to form particularly thin films on the electrode surfaces that selectively release the substances that it is hoped will react. Not only energy efficiency, but also environmental aspects, are central to the research. The aim is to end the use of toxic substances and materials from fossil sources in industrial production, such as removing various plastics from lithium ion batteries. Research at KTH takes place in collaboration with specialists in, for example, materials physics, and with any industries that can benefit from the results.