Derek Hall

Dr. Derek Hall is an Assistant Professor in the John and Willie Leone Department of Energy & Mineral Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on thermally regenerative batteries, electrocatalysis for redox flow batteries, corrosion monitoring in powerplant systems, and membrane-based electrochemical sensors. He is affiliated with the Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE) and leads projects on energy storage, corrosion mitigation, and industrial efficiency.

His work integrates computational modeling with experimental methods to address challenges in low-grade heat utilization, aqueous electrolyte systems, and membrane design. Notable projects include the development of thermally charged flow batteries and novel corrosion sensors for pipelines. He has received seed grants from Penn State and collaborates with industry partners on applied research.

Key Research Themes:

• Thermally regenerative ammonia-based batteries
• Electrocatalytic materials for energy storage
• Corrosion mechanisms in high-temperature environments
• Membrane transport optimization

Recent Trends in Publications: Focus on voltage efficiency improvements, longer battery cycling lifetimes, and cost-effective sensor technologies. Articles highlight advancements in electrode overpotential reduction, high-resolution corrosion imaging, and computational modeling of redox reactions.

Labs & Facilities:_based at the Energy and Environmental Lab in University Park, PA, where he oversees experimental setups for battery testing and corrosion analysis. Collaborates with the IEE Integrated Energy Systems team to advance interdisciplinary projects.