Director of Research and Development

• Oct 2020 - Present

Redefining the future with the CO2 Redox Flow Battery, a revolutionary energy storage solution decarbonizing industrial processes by unlocking clean, reliable and sustainable energy while simultaneously reducing carbon dioxide emissions for a changing world.Embrace the journey towards a greener future that prioritizes innovation, progress, and sustainability and join us in the global effort to create a planet that will endure for generations to come.

Senior Electrochemist

• Sep 2018 - Oct 2020

Working on the electrocatalysis and system design of a unique electrochemical energy storage system enabling the concept of CO2 to energy, known as the CO2 redox flow battery (CRB) for utility-scale applications.

Hon. Research Associate

• Jan 2019 - Present

Co-Founder and Director

• Feb 2017 - Dec 2019

Catalyst Square is an electrochemical R&D company located in Vancouver, Canada, that provides electrochemical expertise, innovative non-precious metal catalysts, catalyst layers and technical solutions to customers seeking to successfully commercialize break-through electrochemical technologies. Catalyst Square is an electrochemical R&D company located in Vancouver, Canada, that provides electrochemical expertise, innovative non-precious metal catalysts, catalyst layers and technical solutions to customers seeking to successfully commercialize break-through electrochemical technologies.

Post-Doctoral Fellow

• Jan 2017 - Sep 2018

Investigating the effect of blinding agents on gold leaching and gold preg-robbers using a novel electrochemical approach coupled with analytical methods at the Materials Engineering Department, UBC, in collaboration with Goldcorp Inc.

Sessional Instructor

• Jan 2018 - Apr 2018

Engineering Materials Laboratory course

Teaching Assistant

• Sep 2012 - Dec 2016

- Mentorship, teaching assistant and laboratory supervision of undergraduate students for:CHBE 262: Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry Laboratory.P101: Energy and Waves Laboratoryatory.

Research Scientist (Ph.D. Candidate)

• Jan 2012 - Dec 2016

Ph.D. thesis title: Bi-functional oxygen reduction/evolution reaction catalysts for alkaline batteries and fuel cells- Developing highly active and durable non-precious group metal (non-PGM) catalysts (i.e. MnO₂ mixed with perovskites, fluorite-type oxides) for bifunctional oxygen cathodes in rechargeable metal-air batteries, alkaline electrolyzers and alkaline regenerative fuel cells.- Investigating the effect of alkali-metal ions on the bifunctional performance of MnOx-based catalysts.- Studying the surfactant-assisted electrodeposition of nanostructured MnOx as ORR/OER bifunctional catalysts. - Gas Diffusion Electrode (GDE) engineering for innovative alkaline fuel cell design including catalyst preparation and surface analysis using SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, EDX, EELS, ICP and FTIR characterization techniques. - Development of grant proposals, documentation of intellectual properties, managing collaborative research projects with industry partners and preparing industrial reports.- Mentoring and supervising undergraduate students for their B.Sc. projects as well as training fresh graduate students. Show less

Intern (Mitacs Accelerate Project)

• Jan 2016 - Apr 2016

Project title: Anode electrocatalyst development in the zinc regeneration unit of zinc-air energy storage systems - Developing active and durable binder-free carbon-free anode (electrocatalyst+substrate) for the OER electrocatalysis in the zinc regeneration unit of the zinc-air alkaline regenerative fuel cell via: 1) Synthesizing non-PGM electrocatalysts (i.e. MnOx, LaCoOx and FeNiOx) using electrodeposition methods. 2) Developing novel electrochemical pre-treatment processes for enhanced performance of the Ni foams as substrates. Show less

Intern (NSERC Engage Plus Grant Program)

• Jun 2015 - Nov 2015

Project title: Anode electrocatalyst development for the Zn-Air regenerative fuel cell OER electrocatalysis - Development of active and durable non-PGM catalysts (i.e. MnOx and LaCoO₃) using surfactant-assisted electrodeposition techniques for OER electrocatalysis in zinc regeneration unit of their zinc-air alkaline regenerative fuel cell. Project title: Anode electrocatalyst development for the Zn-Air regenerative fuel cell OER electrocatalysis - Development of active and durable non-PGM catalysts (i.e. MnOx and LaCoO₃) using surfactant-assisted electrodeposition techniques for OER electrocatalysis in zinc regeneration unit of their zinc-air alkaline regenerative fuel cell.

Intern (NSERC Engage Grant Program)

• Sep 2014 - Feb 2015

Project title: Manganese dioxide-based oxygen reduction catalysts for alkaline zinc-air fuel cells - Catalyst layer preparation and GDE engineering of the MnOx-based cathode for ORR electrocatalysis in the zinc-air alkaline regenerative fuel cell. Project title: Manganese dioxide-based oxygen reduction catalysts for alkaline zinc-air fuel cells - Catalyst layer preparation and GDE engineering of the MnOx-based cathode for ORR electrocatalysis in the zinc-air alkaline regenerative fuel cell.

Consultant

• Dec 2013 - Jan 2014

Project title: Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to chemical fuels - Consulting on the preparation and modification of silver-based GDEs as well as Hybrid Gas Diffusion Electrodes (HDEs) to be tested in the Mantra's CO₂ Electro-Reduction (ERC) unit. Project title: Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to chemical fuels - Consulting on the preparation and modification of silver-based GDEs as well as Hybrid Gas Diffusion Electrodes (HDEs) to be tested in the Mantra's CO₂ Electro-Reduction (ERC) unit.

Research Engineer (M.Sc. Student)

• Sep 2009 - Sep 2011

M.Sc. thesis title: Analytical examination of the tensile deformation behavior of precipitation-hardened aluminum alloy 6111- Performing comprehensive experimental study on the relationship between microstructural evolution (such as shearable and non-shearable behavior of precipitates, their sizes and shapes) and mechanical properties of the precipitation-hardened aluminum alloy 6111 during artificial aging using tensile tests, hardness, bauschinger effect tests and TEM observations.- Developing a physically-based model to predict the mechanical behavior of AA 6111 during precipitation hardening process. Show less

Teaching Assistant

• Sep 2008 - Sep 2011

Teaching assistant for the following courses:- Fracture Mechanics of Materials (M.Sc. course).- Mechanical Properties of Materials I (B.Sc. course).- Physical Properties of Materials I (B.Sc. course).- Corrosion and Protection of Metals and Alloys (B.Sc. course).

Research Assistant (B.Sc. Student)

• Sep 2005 - Jul 2009

Undergraduate thesis title: Controlled forging for automotive parts- Investigating the effects of thermomechanical processing factors such as forging temperature, applied strain and cooling rate on the evolution of microstructure (i.e. ferrite grain refinements) and mechanical properties (e.g. yield strength, tensile strength, toughness and work hardening rate) for a medium-carbon Nb containing microalloyed steel via tensile tests, hardness tests, metallographic observations and SEM analysis. Show less

Intern (FUM Internship Grant Program)

• May 2008 - Sep 2008

Project title: The effect of silver on the performance of positive battery plate in lead-acid batteries - Investigating the effect of silver addition to the cathode material of lead-acid batteries on its shelf life and life-time performance. Project title: The effect of silver on the performance of positive battery plate in lead-acid batteries - Investigating the effect of silver addition to the cathode material of lead-acid batteries on its shelf life and life-time performance.