Jesse S. Wainright is a research and adjunct professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at CWRU. Prior to joining the university’s faculty, he was a research engineer with Standard Oil and British Petroleum (BP). In his academic career, he has specialized in electrochemical power sources: polymer electrolyte fuel cells and their membrane materials, aqueous batteries and electrochemical double layer capacitors, AKA supercapacitors. This work has included experimental and theoretical investigations of ionic conductivity and reactant transport within these devices, the development of new materials (electrolytes, catalysts, electrode structures), and the development of new fabrication methods for these devices. This included the production of small fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors using microfabrication and 3D printing techniques. Wainwright’s current research efforts focus on the development of novel battery chemistries and designs for grid scale energy storage and the creation of novel electrode materials for electrochemical nerve block using direct current.
Research Information
Research Interests
The research in my group is primarily focused on the development of electrochemical power sources - fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors as part of the Electrochemical Engineering and Energy Laboratory (EEEL) at CWRU. All aspects of these devices are considered; from high-level system models to development of new electrolytes and catalysts to fundamental studies of ion conduction. Three of our current programs are detailed below.
- Breakthrough Electrolytes for Energy Storage. (funding from DOE – Basic Energy Science). This Energy Frontiers Research Center is developing the fundamental basis for developing radical new approaches in electrolyte chemistries and electrochemical modalities for energy storage. My group is evaluating the electrochemical stability and ion conduction mechanism of electrolytes based on deep eutectic solvents.
- Enabling Long Duration Metal Hybrid Redox Flow Batteries (funding from DOE – Office of Electricity). In this effort, a slurry electrode concept to decouple the power and energy capabilities of the all-iron flow battery is being pursued. If successful, this effort will lead to greater opportunities for the application of this technology for grid scale energy storage.
- Investigation of Partial Electrical Nerve Block for Autonomic Regulation (funding from NIH). We are developing a new concept focusing on electrical nerve block combined with electrochemical sensing in a feedback loop for regulation of the autonomic nervous system. This effort involves researchers from Metrohealth, the Case School of Medicine and UCLA.
Recent Publications:
Evaluating and Developing a Reliable Reference Electrode for Choline Chloride Based Deep Eutectic Solvents. X. Shen, N. Sinclair, J. Wainright, R. Akolkar and R. F. Savinell, J. Electrochem. Soc. 167 086509, 2020
All Iron Flow Batteries with In-tank Rebalancing. S. Selverston, R. Savinell and J. S. Wainright, J. Electrochem Soc., 166, A1725, 2019
Current Density Distribution in Electrochemical Cells with Small Cell Heights and Coplanar Thin Electrodes as Used in ec-S/TEM Cell Geometries". E.A. Stricker, X. Ke, J.S. Wainright, R.R. Unocic, and R.F. Savinell, J. Electrochem. Soc., 166, 4, H126-H134 ,2019
A Carbon Slurry Separated Interface Nerve Electrode (CSINE) for Electrical Block of Nerve Conduction. Tina L. Vrabec, Jesse S. Wainright, Narendra Bhadra, Laura Shaw, Kevin L. Kilgore and Niloy Bhadra, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems & Rehabilitation Engineering, 27, 5, 836, 2019
“Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of Flowing Electrosorptive Slurry Electrodes”. Nathaniel C. Hoyt, Ertan Agar, Enoch A. Nagelli, Robert Savinell, and Jesse Wainright, J. Electrochem. Soc., 165 (10) E439-E444 (2018). Editor’s Choice Selection
Publications
- Chen, B., Mitchell, S., Sinclair, N., Wainright, J. S., Pentzer, E. S., & Gurkan, B. S. (2020). Feasibility of TEMPO-functionalized Imidazolium, Ammonium and Pyridinium Salts as Redox-Active Carriers in Ethaline Deep Eutectic Solvent for Energy Storage. Molecular Systems Design and Engineering.
- Shen, X., Sinclair, N., Wainright, J. S., Akolkar, R. N., & Savinell, R. F. (2020). Evaluating and developing a reliable reference electrode for choline chloride based deep eutectic solvents. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 167 , 086509.
- Stricker, E., Ke, X., Wainright, J. S., Unocic, R. S., & Savinell, R. F. (2019). Current Density Distribution in Electrochemical Cells with Small Cell Heights and Coplanar Thin Electrodes as Used in ec-S/TEM Cell Geometries. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 166 (4), H126-H134.
- Vrabec, T., Wainright, J. S., Bhadra, N. S., Shaw, L. S., Kilgore, K. S., & Bhadra, N. S. (2019). A Carbon Slurry Separated Interface Nerve Electrode for Electrical Block of Nerve Conduction. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NEURAL SYSTEMS AND REHABILITATION ENGINEERING, 27 (5), 836-845.
- Stricker, E., Adler, Z., Wainright, J. S., & Savinell, R. F. (2019). Diffusion Coefficients of Cuprous and Cupric Ions in Electrolytes with High Concentrations of Bromide Ions. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING DATA, 64 (3), 1095-1100.
- Selverston, S., Nagelli, E., Wainright, J. S., & Savinell, R. F. (2019). All-Iron Hybrid Flow Batteries with In-Tank Rebalancing. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 166 (10), A1725-A1731.
- Stricker, E., Krueger, K., Savinell, R. F., & Wainright, J. S. (2018). Investigating a Bromide Supported Electrolyte for an All-Copper Flow Battery. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 165 (9), A1797-A1804.
- Hoyt, N., Agar, E., Nagelli, E., Savinell, R. F., & Wainright, J. S. (2018). Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of Flowing Electrosorptive Slurry Electrodes. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 165 (10), E439-E444.
- MIller, M., Wainright, J. S., & Savinell, R. F. (2017). Iron Electrodeposition in a Deep Eutectic Solvent for Flow Batteries. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 164 (4), A796.
- Selverston, S., Savinell, R. F., & Wainright, J. S. (2017). Zinc-Iron Flow Batteries with Common Electrolyte. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 164 (6), A1069.
- Vrabec, T., Bhadra, N., Wainright, J. S., Bhadra, N. S., Franke, M. S., & Kilgore, K. S. (2016). Characterization of high capacitance electrodes for the application of direct current electrical nerve block. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing .
- Savinell, R. F., Hoyt, N. F., & Wainright, J. S. (2016). Characterization of Slurry Electrodes Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 163 (1), A5001-A5009.
- Savinell, R. F., & Wainright, J. S. (2016). Communication- Novel Iron Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Redox Flow Battery Applications. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 163 (3), A578-A579.
- Hoyt, N., Wainright, J. S., & Savinell, R. F. (2016). Modeling of Flowable Slurry Electrodes with Combined Faradaic and Nonfaradaic Currents. Chemical Engineering Science.
- Vrabec, T., Bhadra, N., Wainright, J. S., Franke, T. S., & Kilgore, K. S. (2016). Characterization of high capacitance electrodes for the application of direct current electrical nerve block.. Medical & biological engineering & computing, 54 (1), 191-203.
- Savinell, R. F., MIller, M. F., Lynch, R. F., Gao, Y. F., Landon, J. F., & Wainright, J. S. (2016). Electrode Kinetics of Vanadium Flow Batteries: Contrasting Responses of VII-VIII and VIV-VV to Electrochemical Pretreatment of Carbon. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 163 (1), A5097-A5105.
- Petek, T., Hoyt, N., Savinell, R., & Wainright, J. S. (2015). Slurry electrodes for iron plating in an all-iron flow battery. JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES, 294 , 620-626.
- Hoyt, N., Wainright, J. S., & Savinell, R. F. (2015). Current Density Scaling in Electrochemical Flow Capacitors. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 162 (6), A1102-A1110.
- Savinell, R. F., Petek, T. F., MIller, M. F., & Wainright, J. S. (2015). “An investigation into factors affecting the iron plating reaction for an all-iron flow battery”. J. Elecrochem. Society, 162 (1), A108-A113.
- Savinell, R. F., MIller, M. F., Lynch, R. F., Wainright, J. S., & Buckley, D. S. (2015). “Effect of cathodic and anodic treatments of glassy carbon on the electrode kinetics of VIV/VV oxidation-reduction”. Journal of Electrochemical Society, 162 (8), A1547-A1555.
- Savinell, R. F., Wainright, J. S., & Thompson, L. S. (2015). “Performance of a non-aqueous vanadium acetylacetonate prototype redox flow battery: Examination of separators and capacity decay”. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 162 (3), A363-A372.
- Bourke, A., MIller, M., Lynch, R., Wainright, J. S., Savinell, R. S., & Buckley, D. S. (2015). Effect of Cathodic and Anodic Treatments of Carbon on the Electrode Kinetics of V-IV/V-V Oxidation-Reduction. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 162 (8), A1547-A1555.
- Savinell, R. F., & Wainright, J. S. (2015). , “Mathematical modeling of electrochemical flow capacitors, Journal of Electrochemical Society. Journal of Electrochemical Society, 162 (4), A652-A657.
- Franke, T., Vrabec, T., Wainright, J. S., Bhadra, N. S., & Kilgore, K. S. (2014). Combined KHFAC + DC nerve block without onset or reduced nerve conductivity after block.. Journal of neural engineering, 11 (5), 056012.
- Savinell, R. F., & Wainright, J. S. (2014). ,”Maximizing plating density and efficiency for a negative deposition reaction in a flow battery”,. J. Power Sources, 269 , 216-224.
- Savinell, R. F., & Wainright, J. S. (2014). “Studies of iron-ligand complexes for an all-iron flow battery application”. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY, 161 (10), A1662-A1671.
- Franke, M., Vrabec, T., Wainright, J. S., Bhadra, N. S., Bhadra, N. S., & Kilgore, K. S. (2014). Combined KHFAC+DC nerve block without onset or reduced nerve conductivity after block”. Journal of Neural Engineering, 11 , 056012.
- Savinell, R. F., Wainright, J. S., & Petek, T. S. (2013). High Temperature Electrochemical Hydrogen Pump Cell Using a PBI Membrane at High Current Densities. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 50 (2), 2153-2162.
- Hawthorne, K., Wainright, J. S., & Savinell, R. F. (2013). Analytical Studies of Flow Battery Redox Reaction Electrokinetics on a Thin Fiber Film Rotating Disk Electrode. Electrochemical Society Transactions, 50 (1), 49-56.
- Savinell, R. F., Wainright, J. S., & Escalante-Garcia, I. S. (2013). Cu Monolayer on Au/C and Pt/C for the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to Hydrocarbons. Electrochemical Society Transactions, 50 (49), 95-101.
Education
Additional Information
Patents Received
- 2022, "Composite Membranes for Flow Batteries" US 11444306 B2, Jesse Wainright, Enoch Nagelli, Gary Wnek, & Robert Savinell.
- 2013, "Iron Flow Batteries for Cost Effective Grid Level Energy Storage" PCT/US2012/040429, Robert Savinell, & Jesse Wainright.