時間：2026-01-12(一) 10:30 am

講題：Polymer Materials and Electrochemical Systems for Sustainable Energy Technologies

講者：Dr Srinivas Rao Popuri

服務單位：Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences
The University of the West Indies (UWI) Barbados

地點：4樓創意講堂

主持人：許梅娟 教授

摘要：

The pursuit of sustainable energy technologies demands advanced materials and electrochemical systems capable of simultaneously addressing global energy needs, environmental challenges, and resource circularity. Polymer materials, particularly biopolymers derived from renewable biomass offer unique advantages in this landscape owing to their tunable structural, transport, and mechanical properties, environmental benignity, and low-cost scalability. This seminar highlights recent progress in polymer-enabled electrochemical systems and their role in energy–water–waste nexus solutions.

Our work demonstrates the development and application of polymer-based ion-conducting membranes derived from Sargassum seaweed, an abundant and problematic marine biomass in the Caribbean. These membranes exhibit favorable hydrophilicity, ionic conductivity, and mechanical stability while significantly reducing reliance on synthetic membranes such as Nafion. Electrochemical performance studies reveal enhanced proton transport, reduced internal resistance, sustainable biofilm development, and competitive power densities during wastewater treatment processes, highlighting their dual benefit in energy recovery and environmental remediation.

Looking ahead, this research extends toward electrochemical valorization of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) - a toxic by-product prevalent in wastewater and industrial effluents—into biohydrogen, utilizing tailored polymer and biopolymer-supported catalytic interfaces. This approach not only mitigates environmental hazards but also contributes to circular bioenergy generation. Collectively, this work underscores the transformative role of polymer science and electrochemical engineering in enabling low-cost, eco-friendly, and scalable sustainable energy technologies, particularly for island nations and resource-constrained regions.

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