David Ingram

Ph.D. Candidate

Contact Information

Email: dbingram@umich.edu
Phone: (734) 647-8051
Office: 3166 H.H. Dow Building

Education

Ph.D. in Progress
Chemical Engineering
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

M.S. April 2008
Chemical Engineering
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

B.S. May 2006
Chemical Engineering
Texas A&M University, College Station

Current Research

While solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies have been evolving over many decades, little is known about the elementary-step mechanisms of the electrochemical reactions that underly their operation. Fundamental understanding of these systems is complicated by the fact that the heterogeneous electrochemical reactions take place at a three-phase boundary (an interface of electrolyte, metal, and gas phase), which is inaccessible to experimental probes. Furthermore, the reaction analysis is complicated by the fact that important chemical transformations, such as charge transfer steps, take place under high electric fields and large potential drops. Detailed knowledge of these mechanisms and the effects of external conditions—temperature, pressure, operating potential—is necessary in order to yield insights into fuel cell electro-catalysis, with the ultimate goal of the design of novel catalyst materials from first principles.

We have recently developed first principles quantum chemical approach which allows us to study electrochemical transformation at the three phase boundary.


	Current Members Group Alumni Photo Album David Ingram Ph.D. Candidate Contact Information Email: dbingram@umich.edu Phone: (734) 647-8051 Office: 3166 H.H. Dow Building Education Ph.D. in Progress Chemical Engineering University of Michigan, Ann Arbor M.S. April 2008 Chemical Engineering University of Michigan, Ann Arbor B.S. May 2006 Chemical Engineering Texas A&M University, College Station Current Research While solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technologies have been evolving over many decades, little is known about the elementary-step mechanisms of the electrochemical reactions that underly their operation. Fundamental understanding of these systems is complicated by the fact that the heterogeneous electrochemical reactions take place at a three-phase boundary (an interface of electrolyte, metal, and gas phase), which is inaccessible to experimental probes. Furthermore, the reaction analysis is complicated by the fact that important chemical transformations, such as charge transfer steps, take place under high electric fields and large potential drops. Detailed knowledge of these mechanisms and the effects of external conditions—temperature, pressure, operating potential—is necessary in order to yield insights into fuel cell electro-catalysis, with the ultimate goal of the design of novel catalyst materials from first principles. We have recently developed first principles quantum chemical approach which allows us to study electrochemical transformation at the three phase boundary.