Scholar Fuels Students’
Knowledge of Technology

Yanhai Du is an assistant professor of energy and industrial technology in the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology. His research interests include solid oxide fuel cells and systems design, fabrication and characterization, and inorganic materials (ceramic, cement, glass and cermet). Du is the first instructor of a new course titled “Introduction to Sustainability,” and he also plans to offer a clean energy course called “Fuel Cell Technologies and Applications” to promote fuel cell research and development at Kent State.

Since 2003, Du has received more than $5 million in external grant funding to support his research in solid oxide fuel cell and advanced power solutions. He has 24 peer-reviewed articles in international publications including Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, and Journal of Power Sources. In addition, Du has authored nine patents.

Du completed his Bachelor of Science in ceramic materials at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology in China and his Master of Science and Ph.D. in material science at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. Prior to coming to Kent State in 2013, he was a research professor at the University of South Carolina and the University of Connecticut. He also worked in the industry for more than 10 years, holding positions including director of fuel cell development for NanoDyamics Inc. and senior process engineer for Acumentrics Corporation.

View Dr. Du's Curriculum Vitae

About Kent State’s Scholar of the Month

Kent State’s Scholar of the Month recognizes faculty researchers and scholars whose recent work has had an important impact on their professional fields and has brought exposure to the university. Each month, a different college will have the opportunity to nominate a researcher/scholar for this recognition. There is also a month when a faculty member from the Regional Campuses will be featured.

The selection process is in the hands of the dean and his or her colleagues and faculty. Hence, this is recognition by the person’s college colleagues that is then taken up by the university. The deans communicate the person’s name to the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs for recognition as Scholar of the Month.

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