Research Capabilities

The Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Laboratory (SHEL) research group is a multidisciplinary team of internationally-recognised experts with a wide range of capabilities.

SHEL is a multidisciplinary team of internationally-recognised experts with a wide range of capabilities, including:

  • Renewable hydrogen systems modeling, design, development, and implementation (e.g. HOMER, TRNSYS, Dedictaed Matlab simulations)
  • Fuel cell/electrolyser modeling, design and development (system and component level: MEA, GDL, bipolar plates, catalyst layer)
  • Catalysts modeling, design, and development 
  • Comprehensive numerical modeling and analysis of hydrogen systems (e.g. storage, fuel cells, electrolysers) covering combined electrochemistry and thermofluidic aspects
  • Thermo-fluid modeling and design of hydrogen systems (e.g. flow field design, thermal management, reactants control and conditioning, multiphase flows in hydrogen systems, etc.)
  • Electrocatalyst design of solid electrolyte membrane including design, synthesis, fabrication, characterisation and performance evaluation
  • Fabrication process development for optimum synthesis of highly active, stable and tunable Pt/Pt-alloy electrocatalysts on C-support
  • Advanced metal/non-precious metal based electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction
  • Novel electrode materials 
  • Design and fabrication of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells and electrolysers
  • Synthesis of novel polymer, polymer composites and polymer hybrids for PEMFC
  • Computational chemistry (density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations) 
  • Modelling of reactions and adsorption of gases and species on surfaces (including nanomaterials, metals, oxides, composites, amongst others)
  • Modelling of structure and associated electronic and magnetic properties, including charge transfer
  • Hydrogen systems testing and performance assessment (including high temperature PEM fuel cells)
  • Metal hydride development for hydrogen storage 
  • Control solutions for hydrogen systems 
  • Nanomaterials synthesis and characterisation
  • Application of porous inorganic materials
  • High purity hydrogen production using catalytic cracking of methane
  • Catalytic decomposition of ammonia into hydrogen
  • Additive manufacturing based chemical reactors and catalysts
  • Syngas production and conversion
  • Gas-to-liquid technologies
  • Hydrogen safety

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.