School of Engineering graduate student Matthew Brodt is the recipient of the 2014 H. H. Dow Memorial Student Achievement Award given by the Industrial Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering Division of the Electrochemical Society.
The award honors the memory of H. H. Dow and was established in 1990 to recognize promising young engineers and scientists in the field of electrochemical engineering and applied electrochemistry. This award was made possible by a gift from The Dow Chemical Company Foundation and is intended to encourage the recipient to continue his career in electrochemical engineering or applied electrochemistry.
Brodt is currently a Ph.D. candidate under the guidance of H. Eugene McBrayer Professor of Chemical Engineering Peter Pintauro in the chemical and biomolecular engineering department.
His research involves electrospinning nanofiber nonwoven electrode mats that function as cathodes and anodes in high-performance membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for PEM hydrogen/air fuel cells. Brodt is focused on lowering the platinum loading in MEAs while increasing power output and electrode durability. With industry collaboration, he hopes to engineer state-of-the-art electrodes that make an important impact on fuel cell vehicle commercialization.
Brodt will receive his award and give his award lecture at the spring meeting of the Electrochemical Society in Orlando, Fla. in May.