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Brian Benicewicz |
Perfect fitBrian Benicewicz's research nicely complements Carolina's hydrogen studies |
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You might say Brian Benicewicz was the perfect fit for Carolina--and his research is the perfect complement for the University's hydrogen research enterprise. Benicewicz joined the University last summer as endowed chair in the Center for Polymer Nanocomposite Research. Before his arrival at Carolina, Benicewicz directed the New York State Center for Polymer Synthesis and was a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). He's now leading a research team that is investigating the use of nanoparticles in changing the properties of polymer materials. "At the nano scale," Benicewicz says, "the surface area of a particle is so great compared to its volume that it starts to affect the properties of the entire composite. So it's almost realizing a dream: I can put a small amount of 'fairy dust' into a polymer and get a whole set of new properties." Tom Vogt, director of the Carolina's NanoCenter, thinks Benicewicz's research group adds to the University's critical mass in hydrogen research. |
"He is creating needed synergy between the energy research and nanotechnology research taking place here," Vogt says.
Benicewicz's work on polymer membranes is a good example of that synergy. Some fuel cells rely on polymer membranes to serve as an electrolyte, allowing positively charged ions (protons) to pass from one electrode to another while shunting electrons through an external path to create the desired current.
But these polymer membranes restrict themselves to fairly low operating temperatures--usually 80 degrees to 100 degrees C--that limit the fuel cell's efficiency and other factors.
"Nobody has yet come up with a membrane that can operate at higher temperatures and perform well for any period of time," Benicewicz says. "In our labs we've developed membranes that perform very well at higher temperatures and last a really long time."
The Center for Polymer Nanocomposite Research will eventually be housed in the University's Innovista research district. Innovista and the research focus it represents, along with the support from the city of Columbia and state leaders who helped make it all happen, impress Benicewicz greatly.
"Carolina has set the research infrastructure in place and attracted the right people," Benicewicz says. "There aren't many universities that have thought it through this well. The excellent research environment played a large role in my decision to come to Carolina."