Case Western Reserve University

Robert F. Savinell

George S. Dively Professor

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 1973
M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 1974
Ph. D. Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 1977

email: rfs2@case.edu
office: Bingham 120
telephone: (216)368-2728

Research

The goal of my research program is to improve performance and innovated electrochemical solutions to energy conversion, energy conservation and energy storage challenges, and environmental challenges of significance to industry and society. My research focuses on understanding the thermodynamics and kinetic processes at electrochemical interfaces and within electrochemical systems through experimental and simulation approaches. The scope of my research program spans fundamental investigations through translational research towards commercial application. On-going projects include the following:

Investigations of the mechanism of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the polymer-electrode interface, especially under realistic operating conditions of industrial electrolysis and fuel cells
Distinguish the various processes such as intermediate species adsorption/surface coverage, metal-adsorbate electronic interactions, and electrolyte factors on the pre-exponential factor of the ORR.
Investigations leading to the understanding of proton conductivity and stability limits of high temperature polymer electrolytes such as the water-less PBI/phosphoric acid system
Through fundamental approaches, discover non-precious metal catalysts for ORR and other industrial/commercial interesting electrochemical reactions and understand mechanisms, performance limits, and stability issues
Design, materials development, and integration for microfabricated energy conversion devices such as fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors

Selected Publications

Gojkovic, S.Lj., Gupta, S. and Savinell, R.F., "Heat-Treated Iron (III) Tetramethoxyphenyl Porphyrin Chloride Supported On High-Area Carbon As An Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction-Part III. Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide During Oxygen Reduction" , Electrochimica Acta, 45, 889-897 (1999).

Y-L. Ma, J. S. Wainright , M. H. Litt, and R. F. Savinell, Conductivity of PBI Membranes for High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells”, J. Electrochem. Soc., 151(1), A8-A16 (2004).

J.S.Wainright, R.F. Savinell, C.C. Liu, and M. Litt, “Microfabricated Fuel Cells”, Electrochimica Acta, 48(20-22), 2869-2877 (2003).

Liu, Z., Wainright, J.S., Litt, M.H., and R.F. Savinell, “Study of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) at Pt Interfaced with Phosphoric Acid Doped Polybenzimidazole at Elevated Temperature and Low Relative Humidity”, Electrochimica Acta, 51 (19), 3914-3923 (2006).

Rune Halseid, Jesse S. Wainright, Robert F. Savinell, and Reidar Tunold, “Oxidation of Ammonium on Platinum in Acidic Solutions” , J. Electrochem. Soc., Volume 154, Issue 2, pp. B263-B270 (2007)