ATLANTA, GA (TIP): Ashish Aphale, an Indian American assistant professor at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, is leading a team of students to sparking innovation in clean energy through their work on energy storage and conversion systems.
Supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, the research aims to study the influence of hydrogen on the growth of metal oxide nanostructures, with the goal of enhancing electrode performance in energy storage devices, according to a university release. Aphale’s research focuses on the development of advanced materials, such as polymers, nanocomposites, ceramics, and alloys, which can be used to improve energy storage systems like batteries, fuel cells, and other energy conversion devices.
“Energy storage and conversion systems are pivotal to advancing clean energy,” said Aphale, who teaches in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. “Improving electrode material performance in energy systems can reduce their overall cost, making them more viable for large-scale use and transforming clean energy technologies into a more reliable power source.”
Aphale is also exploring ways to expand the use of carbon nanomaterials in energy storage devices. By enhancing the properties of these materials at the molecular level, his team is creating the next generation of energy storage devices to be more efficient, longer lasting, and less expensive to produce.
In addition to this work, Aphale’s research plays a vital role in addressing the environmental challenges caused by the reliance on fossil fuels, according to the release.
Currently, clean energy technologies, particularly solid oxide fuel cells also known as SOFCs, are impeded by trace airborne contaminants that can reduce their performance and lifespan. To overcome this, Aphale’s lab creates advanced materials designed to resist these contaminants, which improves the performance of fuel cell devices.
At KSU, Aphale’s Clean Energy Materials Engineering and Research Lab (CEMER) has become a melting pot for students from various academic backgrounds. In addition to mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, Aphale also runs the Outreach Program for Early Research Experience Opportunity (OREO), providing high school students from the Atlanta area with research internships.
“My students are a vital part of the work we do in the lab,” Aphale said. “I believe in mentoring them and allowing them to be a part of real-world research. Many of them go on to further their studies and careers in the energy sector.”
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