Siddharth R
- Research Program Mentor
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Expertise
Clean energy technologies (fuel cells, hydrogen electrolyzers etc.), electrochemistry, colloidal science, aerosol physics
Project ideas
Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
Replacing rare-earth elements in clean energy technologies
Achieving global climate goals requires rapid and widespread implementation of clean energy technologies. Yet, use of rare-earth elements in these technologies (e.g. cobalt in batteries, platinum in fuel cells, indium in solar panels etc.) make them cost-prohibitive and limit the possibility of extensive world-wide adoption of these clean energy alternatives. Potential project ideas include reviewing the fundamental functions of these rare-earth elements in energy technologies and investigating alternative, earth-abundant materials which may serve similar functions.