The research and innovation in Dr. Qu’s group is well balanced with the scientific significance and potential practical application. Dr. Qu is particularly specializing in not only the fundamental academic research but also bridging it to the development and the production of new products by organizing technology transfer from the lab to production.
Over 2000 square-feet state-of-the-art laboratories are dedicated to electrochemical, analytical and physical chemistry research.
To prove the concept, we are capable of making gas-diffusion-electrodes for both fuel cells and metal-air cells, thin coated electrodes, pallet electrodes and slurry electrodes. Bobbin design AA cells and pouch cells can be built in-house as well as various uniquely designed lab cells.
The advanced research lab includes sophisticated electrochemical instrumentation:
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Chemical and physical analysis capability:
A laboratory with the capability of battery engineering design has been built in Professor Qu’s labs. The following equipment and capabilities are available:
An industrial level pilot scale automated porch cell production line is housed in a dedicated 600+ square-feet dry lab. Porch cell of various sizes (e.g. 3, 5 and 8Ah Li-ion cells) can be made from slurry mixing, electrode coating, calendering, cutting, stacking, electrolyte filling, sealing and finishing. Over 300-channel Arbine testers and environmental chambers (-80 – 250oC with humidity control) are used for the testing of finished cells and packages. It is the first and probably the only industrial level porch cell production line in academic higher education institutions.
600 square feet fully equipped advanced lead-acid battery research and development lab (lab images: central control, acid neutralization system, in-line GC-MS for in-situ gas analysis, density meter, QC for electrode plate, lead acid cell in testing, mulichannel Biologic ELectrochemical (AC_DC) station, Arbin battery testing system, lead acid test station) is housed in the university USR facility. The lab includes eight lead acid battery and lead electrode testing stations, 32-channel Arbine battery tester, four Bio-Logic electrochemical test stations (AC, DC with current booster) and chemical waste collection.
The full life cycle of battery development from fundamental research, prove-of-concept, bench-top validation and industrial level scale-up can be done in-house in professor Qu’s labs here in the College of Engineering and Applied Science in University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. This modern facility was built with the generous gift from Johnson Controls Inc.
Proof-of-concept:
Scale-up Production:
Senior Mechanical Engineering student, Jack Reesman works with lithium ion batteries in the Dry Lab in EMS while Dr. Deyang Qu is working in the background.
L-R: Senior Mechanical Engineering student Jack Reesman and Dr. Deyang Qu begin to work with lithium ion batteries in the Dry Lab located in EMS.
Senior Mechanical Engineering student Jack Reesman, explains the lithium ion battery production equipment located in the Dry Lab of EMS.