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February 2006
Dr. Daniel Stasko of USM’s Lewiston-Auburn
College was recently awarded a grant from the Maine
Space Grant Consortium for his research titled “Borane
and carboran based electrolytes for fuel-cell and battery
applications.”
Stasko's research is focused on addressing
the growing energy demands of consumer electronics and
mobile applications through the development of new materials
for battery and fuel cell systems. One component of
many newer batteries are special highly conducting membranes.
The work that Dr. Stasko's group will focus on is the
incorporation of a newly discovered anion system into
these membranes. This work will hopefully lend chemical
stability at higher temperatures while improving the
conductivity of the membrane. This should allow for
thinner, lighter devices and higher power output.
His initial work will focus on materials
for fuel-cell electrolytes through the incorporation
of unique boron compounds. Stasko believes this will
meet the dual goals of keeping with NASA's ongoing efforts
to improve power generation capabilities and the State
of Maine's key research and development goals of new
materials and environmental technology.
Stasko, who lives in Lewiston, is
an assistant professor of natural and applied sciences.
He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of
Wyoming. Prior to joining the faculty at USM/L-A, he
taught at the University of Toledo in Ohio. He teaches
courses in Chemistry, Organic Biochemistry, and Natural
Science Topics. |
