UJ’s JENano Group advances green hydrogen and energy-storage technologies
In South Africa, Engineering News reported that rsearchers from the JENano Group at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) are advancing South Africa’s green hydrogen ambitions through integrated research spanning computational materials design, advanced electrode fabrication, membrane-free electrolyzers, hydrogen storage and fuel-cell systems.
Working with local and international partners, the group is developing technologies aimed at supporting the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy while addressing practical deployment challenges, according to the report.
The JENano Group forms part of UJ’s Department of Mechanical Engineering Science.
The group’s work covers hydrogen generation, storage and utilization, while also expanding into advanced battery materials and electrochemical energy storage. Researchers are investigating technologies that can improve energy density, durability, safety and charging performance, recognising that batteries and hydrogen will play complementary roles in future energy systems.
A key feature of the group’s research approach is the integration of advanced computational modeling with laboratory validation, according to the report.
Researchers use density functional theory, molecular dynamics and reactive molecular dynamics simulations to investigate materials at atomic scale before they are manufactured and tested. These tools are used to study hydrogen evolution reaction mechanisms, hydrogen storage materials, electrolyzer components and fuel-cell systems, it added.
Category: Research
