معرفی
Michael Janik is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University and serves as the Associate Director & Thematic Area Lead for Integrated Energy Systems at the Institute of Energy and the Environment. His research focuses on atomistic modeling approaches to advance energy conversion technologies, including electrocatalytic systems for fuel cells, polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries, and biomass conversion to liquid fuels. He leads projects on catalyst design using first-principles modeling to optimize reaction mechanisms and materials. His work spans computational catalysis, reaction kinetics, and material characterization, with applications in renewable energy and sustainable chemistry.
- Affiliations: Institute of Energy and the Environment (IEE), College of Engineering
- Key Roles: Thematic Area Lead for Integrated Energy Systems, Associate Director of IEE
Research interests emphasize computational methods (e.g., density functional theory) to study electrochemical systems, cation effects in catalysis, and the development of novel materials for energy storage and conversion. Recent work includes investigations into CO2 reduction mechanisms on gold catalysts, intermetallic catalyst design, and ion exchange affinity in lithium separation materials.
His contributions include over 15 recent publications on topics such as electrocatalysis, hydrogenation selectivity, and material characterization. He collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to address challenges in clean energy technologies, including fossil fuel reforming and biomass utilization.
