Robert Lynch

Robert Lynch is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Limerick, Ireland. He holds affiliations with the Bernal Institute and the Centre for Battery and Energy Materials Research. His work focuses on energy storage systems, particularly vanadium flow batteries (VFBs), semiconductor nanostructure formation, and electrochemical monitoring technologies. He leads the Energy Storage and Semiconductor Technology Group, overseeing research into grid stabilization, electrolyte optimization, and electrode kinetics.

Teaching responsibilities include courses in mechanics, electromagnetism, semiconductor devices, and applied physics. As Course Director for the BSc in Applied Physics, he shapes undergraduate curriculum and coordinates interdisciplinary programs. His research addresses challenges in VFB efficiency, electrode durability, and real-time monitoring via optical and electrochemical methods. Collaborations with industry (e.g., Lumcloon Energy) drive applied projects like Europe’s largest grid-stabilization battery system.

Research emphasizes electrochemical treatments to enhance VFB performance, electrolyte stability under thermal and compositional stress, and anodization processes for semiconductor nanostructuring. Key innovations include novel additives for catholyte stabilization and predictive models for reaction kinetics. His group’s interdisciplinary approach combines material science, electrochemistry, and engineering to advance sustainable energy solutions.