Fanglin Chen

Fanglin (Frank) Chen is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina. His research focuses on materials for energy conversion and storage, particularly in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs), and gas separation membranes. He has contributed to understanding ionic and electronic conducting ceramics, electrocatalysis, and hierarchical material design.

• Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2001
• M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, 1995
• B.S., Chemistry, Anhui University, Hefei, China, 1992

His work spans CO2 electrolysis, hydrogen production, and direct hydrocarbon utilization in electrochemical systems. Recent publications highlight innovations in redox-reversible electrodes, proton conductors, and 3D nanostructured cathodes. He also explores computational approaches for material design and electrochemical reactor optimization.

Research trends include:

• Advancements in perovskite-type electrodes for reversible operation
• Development of hierarchically porous materials for enhanced mass transport
• Doping strategies to improve ionic conductivity and thermal stability
• Integration of computational modeling and experimental validation for material discovery

Professor Chen leads the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Center at the university and holds significant roles as Associate Chair and Undergraduate Director in Mechanical Engineering. His work bridges fundamental material science with applied energy technologies, including space exploration applications of solid oxide systems.