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Faculty
Alevtina Smirnova, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Ph.D., St. Petersburg State University, RF
Phone: (860) 486 - 8762
Email: alevtina@engr.uconn.edu
Research
Recent Publications
Research
The interests in Dr. Smirnova’s research group are focused on the fundamental study of nano- materials with novel architectures and properties synthesized by sol-gel and supercritical fluid technique. The synthesized materials are characterized in terms of their morphology, chemical and electrochemical properties and kinetics using XRD, TEM, SEM, RDE, TPD/TPR, TGA/DSC and Impedance spectroscopy. Dr. Smirnova’s research related to nano-materials, such as high surface area organic and inorganic supports, and low and high temperature catalysts found high interest in very diverse areas of application related to fuel cells, batteries, hydrogen storage compounds, supercapacitors and water purification systems.
Supercritical fluid approach
Supercritical fluids possess a unique combination of properties specific for both liquid and gas. By using supercritical fluids, the properties of various organic and inorganic nano-materials synthesized in the form aerogels can be precisely tuned. The total surface area of these aerogel structures can reach 3000m2/g with narrow pore size distribution in the range of 3-50nm defined by the synthesis conditions. As an example, in the case of carbon aerogels sintered at different temperatures and in different atmospheres, e.g. N2, H2, and CO2, a scalable level of graphitization and porosity can be achieved. In Dr. Smirnova’s group supercritical approach is also used for deposition of metal and metal alloy nano-particles on the surface of carbon or inorganic support using organo-metallic precursors soluble in supercritical fluid (CO2 or NH3). Variation of the fluid polarity and redox properties allows broadening the range of precursors by changing their solubility as well as chemical interaction between the support and deposited metal/organic nano-particles.
High temperature ceramic nano-materials and catalysts
Novel ceramic nano-materials and composites, such as layered perovskites, fluorites, composite perovskite-fluorite materials, and those doped with metals, e.g. Pd are synthesized by sol-gel or supercritical technique. These materials used for SOFC manufacturing are processed using tape casting, screen printing, or electron beam plasma vapor deposition (EB-PVD) method. Low temperature catalysts and supports The emphasis of Dr. Smirnova’s current programs in the area of low temperature nano-materials is focused on carbon aerogel catalyst supports for PEMFCs and DMFCs, hydrogen storage compounds, catalytic converters, and supercapacitors. The developed supercritical approach allows for synthesis of carbon supported noble and transition metal catalysts by depositing nano-size metal or metal alloy particles on the surface of organic or inorganic supports. Based on these structures, the catalysts for PEMFCs with ultra-thin cathode catalyst layers and reduced noble metal concentration were developed meeting the DOE 2010 targets in terms of mass and specific activity.
Teaching
UConn MMAT 345 “Theoretical Electrochemistry”
UConn MMAT 234 “Corrosion”
UConn CHE 127Q “Chemistry: Principles and reactions”
UConn DaVinci program “Principles and application of power generating devices”
MCC: CHE B111 “Concepts of Chemistry”
Quinnipiac University: Chem110L, Chem111L, Science101L
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University of Connecticut |