(2y) Process Intensification for Electrochemical Manufacturing

The growing integration of renewable energy sources has facilitated broad access to clean electricity, inspiring an explosion of interest in electrochemical technologies for storing and converting energy. Through my research, I hope to expand the development of electrochemical engineering approaches for addressing new and emerging sustainability challenges.

Research Vision:

Electrochemistry offers a new paradigm for advanced chemical manufacturing, as reactions can be performed under more ambient conditions and without intensive energy requirements from fossil fuels. Although a diverse array of electrochemical transformations can be achieved at the lab-scale in batch quantities, the transition to high throughput, continuous modes of operation requires judicious reactor engineering alongside a myriad of other unit operations. Most modern electrochemical systems (e.g., electrolyzers, flow batteries) rely on traditional parallel plate architectures, which were widely adopted due to the marked successes of preeminent platforms such as fuel cells. While this reactor format is well-established, it cannot universally meet the unique requirements of future electrochemical manufacturing operations, motivating the development of more versatile system designs.

To enable the next generation of sustainable chemical manufacturing, my research group will leverage fundamental chemical and electrochemical engineering principles to intensify electrosynthetic processes. Within this context, we will pursue applications spanning from specialty and commodity chemicals to biomass upgrading and waste valorization. More specifically, by considering conversion, throughput, and efficiency alongside downstream separation requirements, we will investigate specialized reactor formats to facilitate targeted reaction pathways. Our research will also employ electroanalytical methods to interrogate redox reactions, characterize reactor performance, and monitor reactants / products. To support these experimental efforts, we will simultaneously develop and apply continuum models to better understand and optimize system designs. Through this combined approach, my group will establish design strategies for intensifying electrochemical processes, ultimately expanding their versatility and advancing their integration in modern chemical manufacturing.

Research Experience:

Through my graduate work, I have demonstrated the utility of electrochemical engineering methods for advancing rational design strategies in redox flow batteries (RFBs), a promising platform for grid-scale energy storage. Specifically, I have developed theoretical frameworks to explore complex design tradeoffs for candidate materials and deployed new diagnostic tools to assess performance in practical devices.

• Initially, I investigated the use of multi-electron redox species in RFBs; while these materials can increase energy density, they present potential drawbacks in energy efficiency. Using low-dimensional reactor models and dimensional analysis, I explored key properties that influence performance tradeoffs, ultimately uncovering prominent limitations for this class of redox molecules.
• Following this study, I realized the broad applicability of these models and sought to establish a general theoretical framework for exploring RFB design tradeoffs. To this end, I derived analytical relationships for describing cycling behavior, allowing us to uncover direct connections between material properties and system performance. Moreover, because these models are computationally lightweight, they have enabled analyses which were previously unachievable for systematic RFB diagnostics.
• Alongside these theoretical efforts, I have developed real-time diagnostic methods for characterizing electrolytes during flow cell operation. Specifically, I designed an operando sensor that leverages microelectrodes to evaluate the state-of-charge and state-of-health of electrolytes, providing critical insights into durational system performance.

These research projects have laid a strong foundation for my future research interests, providing a platform for designing electrochemical reactors, characterizing their performance, and ultimately conducting innovative electrochemical engineering research.

Teaching Interests:

I would eagerly teach any core subject in the undergraduate and graduate chemical engineering curriculum, but I believe my research and teaching experiences have prepared me best for courses in transport phenomena, reactor engineering, mass and energy balances, and numerical methods. In particular, my experience as a teaching assistant for undergraduate fluid mechanics has helped to inspire and prepare me for courses in these areas, and I am excited to continue growing as an instructor. Additionally, I am interested in developing or teaching elective courses in electrochemical engineering, as electrochemical technologies are becoming increasingly integrated into the field of chemical engineering, making education in this subject instrumental to workforce development in the chemical sciences.

Beyond the technical skills engendered through chemical engineering coursework, I also recognize the critical importance of communication and leadership skills for enabling successful careers in our discipline. As such, I am passionate about exploring opportunities to engrain these topics in existing courses and to develop additional programs that further hone the skills of our students. For example, I have spent over three years as a Fellow in the MIT Chemical Engineering Communication Lab, where I have taught science communication principles to students and postdoctoral researchers through individualized coaching and group workshops. As a faculty member, I would be excited to build upon this experience to participate in or support the creation of similar programs within my department.

Selected Awards:

2022, Martin Fellowship for Sustainability

2022, Distinguished Young Scholars Seminar

2021, MIT Chemical Engineering Outstanding Seminar Presentation

2021, MIT Chemical Engineering Individual Citation for Department Service

2018, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

2018, Russ College of Engineering Outstanding Senior Award

Selected Publications (4 of 17):

1. B. J. Neyhouse, J. Lee, F. R. Brushett. Connecting material properties and redox flow cell cycling performance using analytical zero-dimensional models. Preprint. DOI: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2022-p2ljr
2. B. J. Neyhouse, K. M. Tenny, Y.-M. Chiang, F. R. Brushett. Microelectrode-based sensor for measuring operando active species concentrations in redox flow cells. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 4, 12, 13830-13840, 2021.
3. B. J. Neyhouse, F. R. Brushett. From the synthesis vial to the full cell: Electrochemical methods for characterizing active materials for redox flow batteries. Encyclopedia of Energy Storage 2, 453-465, 2022.
4. B. J. Neyhouse, A. M. Fenton Jr., F. R. Brushett. Too much of a good thing? Assessing performance tradeoffs of two-electron compounds for redox flow batteries. J. Electrochem. Soc. 168, 050501, 2021.