Viola Birss

Last updated
Viola Ingrid Birss
Born
Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
Alma mater University of Auckland
Known forElectrochemistry
Solid oxide fuel cells
AwardsDavid C. Grahame Award (2017)
Scientific career
Institutions University of Ottawa
University of Calgary

Viola Ingrid Birss is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Calgary and has been the holder of a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Fuel Cells and Related Clean Energy Systems for two 7-year terms. She works on electrochemical and nanomaterial technologies to advance clean energy and environmental applications.  She is a prolific scientist with over 350 refereed scientific publications. She has also supervised over 200 undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students and is an avid advocate for EDI, specifically in the attraction and retention of women in science and engineering.

Contents

Early life and education

Birss grew up in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. She moved to Calgary at the age of ten. [1] When she was deciding what to study at college, she felt that physics was "too abstract" and biology "too descriptive", so settled on chemistry. [1] Having grown up with the wilderness close to her home, Birss was always aware of the environment, and interested in identifying clean ways of storing, converting and using energy. [1] [2] This attracted her to materials science and electrochemistry. Birss earned her doctorate at the University of Auckland as a Commonwealth Scholar, where she studied the electrochemistry of metal halide and metal sulfide monolayers and thin films on silver electrodes. [1] Her doctoral thesis was titled Electrochemical studies of anodic films on silver. [3] She was a postdoctoral research scientist at the University of Ottawa, where she worked on the supercapacitive properties of hydrous metal oxides. During this post, she specialized in studies of Ru oxide. [1]

Research and career

Birss began her independent career at Alcan International, where she helped develop techniques to evaluate the susceptibility of aluminum alloys to stress corrosion and pitting. Her efforts included efforts to understand how to stabilize and protect a high-strength corrosion-resistant alloy: Al-Mg-Si alloy. She moved to the University of Calgary in 1983 where she was an Assistant Professor until 1987, an Associate Professor until 1991, then promoted to Full Professor. [1]

Birss prepares, characterizes and optimizes nanomaterials for a range of different electrochemical applications, including in fuel cells, electrolysis cells, batteries, capacitors and sensors. In her earlier work in Calgary, Birss and her team focused on understanding and modifying the electrochemical, chemical, physical and morphological properties of thin films on electrode surfaces, ranging from conducting polymers to a range of redox-active, hydrous, metal oxides. [4]   In 2002, she was a founder and leader of the Western Canada Fuel Cell Initiative, which included over 35 research groups at eight institutions. This was supported by $2 million of funding under Birss' leadership. She subsequently co-founded the pan-Canadian Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Canada NSERC Research Network, an umbrella organization for groups working on solid oxide fuel cells. [5] The focus of this 5 year network, which involved over 16 research groups at 8 universities across Canada, as well as government and industry partners, was focused mostly on the development of anodes that resist both sulfur contaminant poisoning and coking when operated on hydrogen from natural gas.

Birss became a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Fuel Cells at the University of Calgary in 2004, holding the chair for two 7-year terms. [6] [7] The majority of her efforts as a CRC were focused on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), carbon nanomaterials, and electrochemical biological sensing. [8] Some of her main contributions have involved determining the kinetics and mechanisms of oxidation and reduction reactions in fuel cells using electrochemical methods, as well as developing new fuel cell materials. Her team improved the performance and lifetime of low temperature PEMFCs through the development of ordered nanoporous carbon powders as well as self-supported, nanoporous carbon scaffolds. For use in high temperature solid oxide cells, Birss has further developed a family o metal oxide perovskite catalysts that can be used as both the anode and cathode in both solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolysis cells, catalyzing carbon dioxide splitting, water splitting, hydrogen and carbon monoxide oxidation, and oxygen reduction. Other areas of research have included the development of core shell nanoparticles, protective coatings and other novel strategies to combat the corrosion of metals, as well as selective and sensitive electrochemical biosensors for the detection of pathogens.

Birss is currently the Scientific Director of CAESR-Tech (Calgary Advanced Energy Storage and Conversion Research Technologies), a large cluster of scientists and engineers who are focused on electrochemical technologies. This includes electrolysis cells, fuel cells, a variety of batteries and electrochemical capacitors, as well as electricity management and LCA, all at the University of Calgary. The CAESR-Tech cluster then spawned the ME2 NSERC CREATE student training center. [9] Birss currently also serves as the Co-Lead of the Electrolysis Theme of HyPT (Hydrogen Production Technologies), a Global Research Center. [10]

Awards and honours

Her awards and honours include;

She is a Fellow of the Royal Society (UK), Royal Society of Canada, the Chemical Institute of Canada and the Electrochemical Society. [16]

Selected publications

Her publications include:

Birss serves as associate editor of the Journal of Materials Chemistry A . [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrochemistry</span> Branch of chemistry

Electrochemistry is the branch of physical chemistry concerned with the relationship between electrical potential difference and identifiable chemical change. These reactions involve electrons moving via an electronically conducting phase between electrodes separated by an ionically conducting and electronically insulating electrolyte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrochemical cell</span> Electro-chemical device

An electrochemical cell is a device that generates electrical energy from chemical reactions. Electrical energy can also be applied to these cells to cause chemical reactions to occur. Electrochemical cells that generate an electric current are called voltaic or galvanic cells and those that generate chemical reactions, via electrolysis for example, are called electrolytic cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrolysis</span> Technique in chemistry and manufacturing

In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a technique that uses direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction. Electrolysis is commercially important as a stage in the separation of elements from naturally occurring sources such as ores using an electrolytic cell. The voltage that is needed for electrolysis to occur is called the decomposition potential. The word "lysis" means to separate or break, so in terms, electrolysis would mean "breakdown via electricity."

The Hall–Héroult process is the major industrial process for smelting aluminium. It involves dissolving aluminium oxide (alumina) in molten cryolite and electrolyzing the molten salt bath, typically in a purpose-built cell. The process conducted at an industrial scale, happens at 940–980 °C and produces aluminium with a purity of 99.5-99.8%. Recycling aluminum, which does not require electrolysis, is thus not treated using this method.

A regenerative fuel cell or reverse fuel cell (RFC) is a fuel cell run in reverse mode, which consumes electricity and chemical B to produce chemical A. By definition, the process of any fuel cell could be reversed. However, a given device is usually optimized for operating in one mode and may not be built in such a way that it can be operated backwards. Standard fuel cells operated backwards generally do not make very efficient systems unless they are purpose-built to do so as with high-pressure electrolysers, regenerative fuel cells, solid-oxide electrolyser cells and unitized regenerative fuel cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solid oxide fuel cell</span> Fuel cell that produces electricity by oxidization

A solid oxide fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device that produces electricity directly from oxidizing a fuel. Fuel cells are characterized by their electrolyte material; the SOFC has a solid oxide or ceramic electrolyte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-temperature electrolysis</span> Technique for producing hydrogen from water

High-temperature electrolysis is a technology for producing hydrogen from water at high temperatures or other products, such as iron or carbon nanomaterials, as higher energy lowers needed electricity to split molecules and opens up new, potentially better electrolytes like molten salts or hydroxides. Unlike electrolysis at room temperature, HTE operates at elevated temperature ranges depending on the thermal capacity of the material. Because of the detrimental effects of burning fossil fuels on humans and the environment, HTE has become a necessary alternative and efficient method by which hydrogen can be prepared on a large scale and used as fuel. The vision of HTE is to move towards decarbonization in all economic sectors. The material requirements for this process are: the heat source, the electrodes, the electrolyte, the electrolyzer membrane, and the source of electricity.

A proton-exchange membrane, or polymer-electrolyte membrane (PEM), is a semipermeable membrane generally made from ionomers and designed to conduct protons while acting as an electronic insulator and reactant barrier, e.g. to oxygen and hydrogen gas. This is their essential function when incorporated into a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell or of a proton-exchange membrane electrolyser: separation of reactants and transport of protons while blocking a direct electronic pathway through the membrane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrolysis of water</span> Electricity-induced chemical reaction

Electrolysis of water is using electricity to split water into oxygen and hydrogen gas by electrolysis. Hydrogen gas released in this way can be used as hydrogen fuel, but must be kept apart from the oxygen as the mixture would be extremely explosive. Separately pressurised into convenient 'tanks' or 'gas bottles', hydrogen can be used for oxyhydrogen welding and other applications, as the hydrogen / oxygen flame can reach approximately 2,800°C.

In electrochemistry, electrosynthesis is the synthesis of chemical compounds in an electrochemical cell. Compared to ordinary redox reactions, electrosynthesis sometimes offers improved selectivity and yields. Electrosynthesis is actively studied as a science and also has industrial applications. Electrooxidation has potential for wastewater treatment as well.

A Direct Carbon Fuel Cell (DCFC) is a fuel cell that uses a carbon rich material as a fuel such as bio-mass or coal. The cell produces energy by combining carbon and oxygen, which releases carbon dioxide as a by-product. It is also called coal fuel cells (CFCs), carbon-air fuel cells (CAFCs), direct carbon/coal fuel cells (DCFCs), and DC-SOFC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solid oxide electrolyzer cell</span> Type of fuel cell

A solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) is a solid oxide fuel cell that runs in regenerative mode to achieve the electrolysis of water by using a solid oxide, or ceramic, electrolyte to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen. The production of pure hydrogen is compelling because it is a clean fuel that can be stored, making it a potential alternative to batteries, methane, and other energy sources. Electrolysis is currently the most promising method of hydrogen production from water due to high efficiency of conversion and relatively low required energy input when compared to thermochemical and photocatalytic methods.

Water oxidation is one of the half reactions of water splitting:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proton exchange membrane electrolysis</span> Technology for splitting water molecules

Proton exchange membrane(PEM) electrolysis is the electrolysis of water in a cell equipped with a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) that is responsible for the conduction of protons, separation of product gases, and electrical insulation of the electrodes. The PEM electrolyzer was introduced to overcome the issues of partial load, low current density, and low pressure operation currently plaguing the alkaline electrolyzer. It involves a proton-exchange membrane.

Linda Faye Nazar is a Senior Canada Research Chair in Solid State Materials and Distinguished Research Professor of Chemistry at the University of Waterloo. She develops materials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Nazar demonstrated that interwoven composites could be used to improve the energy density of lithium–sulphur batteries. She was awarded the 2019 Chemical Institute of Canada Medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reversible solid oxide cell</span>

A reversible solid oxide cell (rSOC) is a solid-state electrochemical device that is operated alternatively as a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC). Similarly to SOFCs, rSOCs are made of a dense electrolyte sandwiched between two porous electrodes. Their operating temperature ranges from 600°C to 900°C, hence they benefit from enhanced kinetics of the reactions and increased efficiency with respect to low-temperature electrochemical technologies.

Gerardine "Gerri" Botte is a Venezuelan-American chemist who is a professor and the Whitacre Department Chair in Chemical Engineering at Texas Tech University. Her research considers electrochemical engineering and the development of sustainable manufacturing processes. Botte is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Applied Electrochemistry and a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society.

Mita Dasog is an associate professor at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has received the Emerging Professional Award, the Canadian Council of University Chemistry Chairs Doctoral Award, is a “Top 25” Global Young Scientist in Sustainable Research, and is one of the top 150 women in STEM for her outreach efforts with youth and young women.

Curtis P. Berlinguette is a professor of chemistry. and chemical and biological engineering at the University of British Columbia. He is also a CIFAR Program co-director, a principal investigator at the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. His academic research group designs and builds electrochemical reactors for:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karim Zaghib</span> Algerian-Canadian electrochemist

Karim Zaghib is an Algerian-Canadian electrochemist and materials scientist known for his contributions to the field of energy storage and conversion. He is currently Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering at Concordia University. As former director of research at Hydro-Québec, he helped to make it the world’s first company to use lithium iron phosphate in cathodes, and to develop natural graphite and nanotitanate anodes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Madsen, Lynnette (2016-01-15). Successful Women Ceramic and Glass Scientists and Engineers: 100 Inspirational Profiles. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   9781118733714.
  2. ↑ How many batteries would it take to power the whole world? , retrieved 2019-09-23
  3. ↑ Birss, Viola (1978). Electrochemical studies of anodic films on silver (Doctoral thesis). ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland. hdl:2292/1489.
  4. ↑ "journal_of_materials_chemistry_a_editorial board members". www.rsc.org. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  5. ↑ "About Dr. Birss | Dr. Viola I. Birss | Department of Chemistry| University of Calgary". www.ucalgary.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  6. ↑ "Viola Birss". ECS. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  7. ↑ Government of Canada, Industry Canada (2012-11-29). "Canada Research Chairs". www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  8. ↑ "Birss Research Group". birssgroup. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  9. ↑ "NSERC: 2024 Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program | Research at UCalgary | University of Calgary". research.ucalgary.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  10. ↑ "Home". Global Hydrogen Production Technologies (HyPT) Center. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  11. ↑ "Peak Scholars 2019 | Innovation | Research at UCalgary | University of Calgary". research.ucalgary.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  12. 1 2 3 "Viola Ingrid Birss | UCalgary Profiles | University of Calgary". profiles.ucalgary.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  13. ↑ Madsen, Lynnette (2016-01-15). Successful Women Ceramic and Glass Scientists and Engineers: 100 Inspirational Profiles. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   9781118733714.
  14. ↑ "Viola Birss: Materials Science H-index & Awards - Academic Profile". Research.com. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  15. ↑ Alberta, Technology. "Birss, Dr. Viola – ASTech Awards" . Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  16. 1 2 "Birss Research Group". birssgroup. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  17. ↑ "Viola Ingrid Birss | UCalgary Profiles | University of Calgary". profiles.ucalgary.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  18. ↑ "CIC Fellowship". The Chemical Institute of Canada. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  19. ↑ "Clara Benson Award". The Chemical Institute of Canada. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  20. ↑ "Canada Section W. Lash Miller Award". ECS. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  21. ↑ "Canada Section W. Lash Miller Award". ECS. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  22. ↑ "Journal of Materials Chemistry A". www.rsc.org. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
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