Kunlei Liu

Kunlei Liu is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Institute for Decarbonization and Energy Advancement (IDEA) at the University of Kentucky. He holds a Ph.D. in Thermoenergy Engineering from Southeast University (1993), an M.S. in Thermoenergy Engineering (1991), and a B.S. in Power Engineering (1988), all from Southeast University, Nanjing, PRC. His career includes roles as Associate Director for Research at the Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) and academic positions at Western Kentucky University, including managing their Combustion Laboratory from 2002–2004. Prior to academia, he worked at The Babcock & Wilcox Company as an Advisory Engineer (2004–2005).

Research Interests: Dr. Liu focuses on advanced combustion and gasification technologies, carbon removal from point sources and ambient air, hydrogen production, efficiency optimization, and material recovery from spent batteries and solar panels. His work integrates engineering, environmental science, and electrochemistry to address decarbonization challenges. He actively explores innovations in CO₂ capture solvents, electrochemical processes, and waste valorization strategies.

Articles Trends: His recent publications concentrate on CO₂ capture via novel absorbents (e.g., diamine-based and potassium salts), electrochemical methods for CO₂ conversion, solvent degradation mechanisms, and material recovery from spent batteries and solar panels. He also investigates process intensification techniques using 3D-printed structured packing, microbubble technologies, and low-temperature methanation. Key areas include optimizing pilot plant performance, reducing nitrosamine contaminants, and enhancing system efficiency through computational modeling and experimental validation.

Grants & Advising: While no advisees are listed, his leadership roles indicate extensive grant-funded research, including projects on decarbonization technologies, formic acid production, and direct air capture. He has managed CAER’s research programs and led interdisciplinary teams in pilot-scale testing and industrial collaborations.

Labs & Teams: Dr. Liu directs IDEA and has historically managed the Combustion Laboratory at Western Kentucky University. He collaborates closely with UK’s Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER), focusing on innovative technologies for energy systems and environmental sustainability.