Matthew Gaskins Email & Phone Number

I am currently a student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Tennessee. I am preparing to graduate in May, 2018. My pertinent experience stems from 2 and a half years working in solid acid fuel cell research in the Zgroup as an undergraduate research assistant. My work in the lab was initially centered around analysis of the organocatalyst precursors used for the synthesis of catalyst nanoparticles. This included x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and mass spectrometry for the purposes of optimizing the chemical vapor deposition of nanoparticles. Shortly after this work, I helped in the design, assembly and troubleshooting of a test cell that would mimic the chemical vapor deposition performed in the lab. There was a great deal of material selection and control systems experience involved in the design. Two test cells of this design were later taken to Argonne National Laboratory to perform x-ray scattering tests in real time on our catalyst precursors to analyze their decomposition.Moving forward, I compared two nonprecious bimetallic alloys to the performance of platinum alone and later presented this material at the AIChE 2017 Southern Student Regional Conference. The use of nonprecious metals alloyed with platinum allowed for the reduction in platinum content, and by extension, manufacture cost.

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  University Of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Chemical Engineering