PhD Research Student
Email: Faye.Al-hersh13@imperial.ac.uk
Office: RODH 149
Department of Chemical Engineering
Biography
Date |
Role |
---|---|
2014 - present |
PhD in Chemical Engineering, REaCT group, Imperial College London |
2012 - 2013 |
MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures, Energy Futures Lab, Imperial College London |
2008 - 2012 |
BEng in Sustainable Engergy Engineering, Queen Mary University of London |
Research
Photo-electrochemical Hydrogen Production
Faye Alhersh is a PhD student researching photo-electrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production. After graduating with a BEng in Sustainable Energy Engineering in 2013, she joined the Energy Futures Lab department at Imperial College to pursue an MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures and in the following year became part of the REaCT research group under Prof Klaus Hellgardt.
PEC hydrogen production represents a promising renewable energy technology worldwide as it makes use of two abundant sources; solar energy and water, to produce hydrogen which is a clean fuel, as well as oxygen gas. A PEC system generates a voltage in an electrolysis cell using the energy of solar photons to electrolyse water and split it into hydrogen and oxygen. However, there are currently a number of limitations to this technology such as the need of an electrical/chemical bias to drive the reaction, the lower and upper limits placed on the band-gap of the semiconductor material used as the photo-electrode, and the photo-electrode lifetime in the aqueous conditions of the PEC cell. With a combination of reactor design, material deposition methods and temperature variation, Faye’s research aims to overcome some of the above limitations to technology
Honours and Memberships
Awards and Honours
Date | Awards and Honours |
---|---|
2012-2013 | Graduated with 1st class honours in BEng Sustainable Energy Engineering |
2012-2013 | Beng Institution of Mechanical Engineers (ImechE) Project Certificate for third year prize in Sustainable Energy Engineering |
2010-2011 | Beng Institution of Mechanical Engineers (ImechE) Certificate for first year prize in Sustainable Energy Engineering |
2010-Present | The Distinguished Student Scholarship (DSS) from SCO, Abu Dhabi |
2010 | Valedictorian of Class 2010 |
2009-2010 | Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cambridge Award for receiving the highest average across three Cambridge international AS-levels |