Faculty Profile

Dr. H Russell Kunz
Professor-in-Residence
Department of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Engineering and CT Global Fuel Cell Center

Contact:
44 Weaver Road, Unit 5233
Storrs, CT 06269-5233
Ph.: (860) 486-5389
Fax: (860) 486-8378
E-mail: russkunz@engr.uconn.edu

Research Interests:

Dr. Kunz has been a professor-in-residence in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Connecticut (UConn) since 1993. In that capacity, he advises graduate students in their areas of research. His basic research areas include membranes, catalysts, electrodes, and gas diffusion layers for use in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Presently, bipolar plates and composite membranes are being developed for use in higher temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

Since 2006 Dr. Kunz has been associated with the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and is currently investigating techniques for allowing PEM fuel cells to operate at higher temperatures to improve system efficiency and functionality.

Prior to joining FSEC and UConn, Dr. Kunz performed research at United Technologies Corporation on advanced power systems including gas turbines, rockets, and fuel cells. While researching fuel cells, he directed a group that helped to develop alkaline, phosphoric acid, molten carbonate, and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. He has authored or co-authored 77 refereed publication and 29 patents primarily on fuel cells and a book entitled "Experimental Methods and Data Analyses for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells". In 1998, Dr. Kunz received the Research Award of the Electrochemical Society for his outstanding research contributions to the field of novel electrochemical energy technologies.