PhD Research Student 
Email: Faye.Al-hersh13@imperial.ac.uk
Office: RODH 149
Department of Chemical Engineering
Biography
|
Date |
Role |
|---|---|
|
2014 - present |
PhD in Chemical Engineering, REaCT group, ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ |
|
2012 - 2013 |
MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures, Energy Futures Lab, ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ |
|
2008 - 2012 |
BEng in Sustainable Engergy Engineering, Queen Mary University of London |
Research
Photo-electrochemical Hydrogen Production
Faye Alhersh is a PhD student researching photo-electrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production. After graduating with a BEng in Sustainable Energy Engineering in 2013, she joined the Energy Futures Lab department at ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ College to pursue an MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures and in the following year became part of the REaCT research group under Prof Klaus Hellgardt.
PEC hydrogen production represents a promising renewable energy technology worldwide as it makes use of two abundant sources; solar energy and water, to produce hydrogen which is a clean fuel, as well as oxygen gas. A PEC system generates a voltage in an electrolysis cell using the energy of solar photons to electrolyse water and split it into hydrogen and oxygen. However, there are currently a number of limitations to this technology such as the need of an electrical/chemical bias to drive the reaction, the lower and upper limits placed on the band-gap of the semiconductor material used as the photo-electrode, and the photo-electrode lifetime in the aqueous conditions of the PEC cell. With a combination of reactor design, material deposition methods and temperature variation, Faye’s research aims to overcome some of the above limitations to technology
Honours and Memberships
Awards and Honours
| Date | Awards and Honours |
|---|---|
| 2012-2013 | Graduated with 1st class honours in BEng Sustainable Energy Engineering |
| 2012-2013 | Beng Institution of Mechanical Engineers (ImechE) Project Certificate for third year prize in Sustainable Energy Engineering |
| 2010-2011 | Beng Institution of Mechanical Engineers (ImechE) Certificate for first year prize in Sustainable Energy Engineering |
| 2010-Present | The Distinguished Student Scholarship (DSS) from SCO, Abu Dhabi |
| 2010 | Valedictorian of Class 2010 |
| 2009-2010 | Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cambridge Award for receiving the highest average across three Cambridge international AS-levels |