The Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of South Carolina possesses
state-of-the-art facilities, a dynamic faculty, and vigorous research programs, placing
our research efforts at the forefront of fields including energy, advanced materials,
manufacturing, environmental solutions and medicine. Faculty are addressing problems
that align with national and international challenges and are relevant to consumers,
industry and government.
Research Strengths
Catalyst Design and Evaluation:
Catalysis and separation technologies are fundamental to converting raw materials
into essential chemical products such as fuels, polymers, and platform chemicals,
as well as for the conversion and storage of energy. These processes involve intricate,
multidisciplinary challenges that bridge molecular- level catalytic mechanisms, mass
transfer through porous structures and membranes, and the operation of industrial-scale
reactors and separation equipment. Current catalysis and separations research aims
to create and understand functional materials by using advanced characterization and
modeling tools to ultimately design next-generation materials and processes that solve
global, societal problems.
Computational modeling and multiscale simulations help to understand and predict how
complex systems work. This approach connects different time and size scales—from electrons
and atoms all the way up to large-scale processes and chemical plants. Researchers
apply various methods like density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD),
Monte Carlo techniques, and continuum modeling to study how materials and systems
behave, how reactions happen, how fluids move, and how phases change. More recently,
machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are being added to speed up
simulations, find patterns in large datasets, and help discover new materials and
processes. These advanced tools make models more accurate and efficient, leading to
breakthroughs in catalysis, separation processes, and renewable energy technologies.
Electrochemical engineering is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on improving
the performance, durability, and safety of devices such as lithium-ion batteries,
fuel cells, and water electrolyzers, as well as the development of systems for carbon
dioxide capture and utilization. A core goal is to understand and control the chemical,
electrochemical, and mechanical properties of materials and their hierarchical structures,
from the atomic to the device scale. By integrating multiscale modeling and advanced
simulation techniques, material behavior in complex electrochemical environments can
be predicted. This facilitates the design and integration of novel electroactive materials
into efficient and sustainable energy conversion and storage systems, ultimately enabling
transformative solutions for a cleaner energy future.
Advanced materials research is driving innovation across numerous industries by developing
substances with enhanced properties and novel functionalities. Researchers in this
area integrate chemistry, electrochemistry, mechanics, and nanoscience to design materials
with tailored properties across multiple length scales. Key areas include nanomaterials
for catalysis and separations, smart materials that respond to environmental changes,
and biomaterials for medical applications. Researchers use cuttingedge techniques
like additive manufacturing, computational modeling, and machine learning to accelerate
discovery processes.
