Kevin Leonard

Kevin Leonard is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering at the University of Kansas. His research focuses on sustainable chemistry and engineering, particularly in CO2 conversion technologies, electrochemical systems, and machine learning applications. He was awarded the 2023 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Lectureship Award for pioneering work in CO2-expanded electrolytes and hydrogen production.

His work emphasizes scalable solutions for clean energy, including advancements in electrocatalysts for water splitting and CO2 reduction. He has developed innovative methods using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to study nanoscale electrochemical processes. Key contributions include pressure-tunable CO2-expanded electrolytes that enhance reaction rates and selectivity in electrochemical reactions.

• Research Highlights:
  • Electrochemical CO2-to-fuel conversion
  • Machine learning for catalyst design
  • High-performance oxygen evolution electrocatalysts
  • Nanoscale imaging of reaction dynamics

Leonard’s plenary presentation at the 2023 Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference underscored his leadership in bridging fundamental electrochemistry with industrial sustainability goals. His interdisciplinary approach integrates materials science, data science, and chemical engineering to address global energy challenges.

Lab and Team: His lab collaborates on projects funded by the National Science Foundation and industry partners, focusing on scalable electrochemical systems and AI-driven material discovery.