Huang excited to usher in new generation of power electronics, converters

As more homes, industries, and power grid systems utilize solar and other renewable energy, and more vehicle owners switch to electric vehicles (EVs), the need for power converters is on the rise. But right now, they’re still expensive and not as efficient and compact as they could be. Qingyun Huang is working to change that. An assistant professor in electrical engineering and computer science, he’s excited to help usher in a new generation of power electronics that are efficient, compact, affordable, and reliable.

Jin works to advance technology to solve climate challenges, meet energy demands

Yue Jin has been interested in nuclear power as a clean energy source since his undergraduate studies at a top-ranked university in China. So, after completing a PhD from Pennsylvania State University and working as a post-doctoral fellow at MIT, he saw Mizzou as an obvious next step.

Researchers devise mew technique to monitor reactor coolant pumps

Nuclear power plants that provide needed electricity rely on reactor coolant pumps for safe, continuous and reliable operations. But if the pump malfunctions, it can take plants offline, requiring costly repairs and interrupting services, or, worse, cause environmental and safety problems. Now, a Mizzou industrial and systems engineering team has devised a new technique to allow plants to monitor the reactor coolant pumps more closely, allowing plant operators to flag abnormalities before they become problems.

Mizzou Engineering researcher helps turn wastes into biodegradable plastic

A Mizzou Engineer is helping researchers at Virginia Tech develop a process to convert food wastes into biodegradable plastics. Caixia “Ellen” Wan is an associate professor of chemical and biomedical engineering and a bioprocess engineer. She’s part of a team that received a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to upscale bioplastic production with the goal of replacing petroleum-based plastics while also keeping leftovers out of landfills.

Researcher working toward safer, more efficient LED lighting technology

A Mizzou Engineer has found a way to improve light-emitting diodes (LEDs), reducing the harsh blue hue associated with LED light fixtures.

In pursuit of better lithium-ion batteries

From personal electronics to electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are used in many technologies today. Over the last 30 years, scientists have worked to improve the overall safety and performance of these batteries by converting a key component, called electrolytes, from liquid to solid — partly due to an issue of the liquid being flammable.