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Overview
MER Lab focuses on the design, engineering, research, development and characterization of materials for electrochemical applications in sustainable energy generation and environmental protection. Our focus is on understanding electron transfer processes using spectroscopic techniques (including synchrotron-based techniques), and applying that knowledge to solve interdisciplinary materials and engineering problems. Electrochemistry and spectroscopy can be used to obtain complementary information; electrochemistry assesses the nature and kinetics of an electron transfer reaction and spectroscopy, often used simultaneously with electrochemistry in our research, provides chemical and molecular information of the same reaction. Our research is primarily in the area of corrosion and corrosion protection, and electrochemical engineering. CLICK HERE to learn about existing projects. Scope
Corrosion, the natural transformation of metals to thermodynamically more favorable states, is a result of the interaction of the metal with its environment. Corrosion and corrosion control costs annually reach ~3-4% of a nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and amounted to ~$276 billion in the United States in 2009. Corrosion related failures are often catastrophic and may lead to loss of life. Such failures in aerospace, defense, nuclear, naval, and oil and gas industries can be particularly dangerous and expensive. Corrosion problems often involves combining applied and fundamental engineering and science, chemistry and materials, theory and experiments.
Over last several decades, corrosion engineering has been a relatively stable profession with high demand and remuneration. For example, the national median salary for corrosion technology is $64,860 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is well above the overall average. However, due to the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of the problems, very few university faculty conduct corrosion research and educate students in this topic. In fact, only about 65 universities even offer a course in corrosion science and/or engineering. University of Nevada Reno (UNR) is the only institution in the state of Nevada to offer Materials Science and Engineering programs (BS, MS and PhD) and has a strong history of corrosion research and education in the department. Contact information
Professor Dev Chidambaram Director - MER Laboratory Graduate Program Director - Materials Science and Engineering Chemical and Materials Engineering (CME) Department LMR 261, MS 0388 University of Nevada Reno Reno, NV 89557-0388  |
Channel 4 (NBC) News 10-21-2012COOL VIDEOSTime lapse video for formation of corrosion protective molybdate coating (blue) on aerospace aluminum alloy AA2024-T6 in less than 8 minutes.
LATEST NEWSMER lab research on aircraft coatings featured on NBC daily news Oct 21, 2012. MER lab research on aircraft coatings featured on Fox News website Oct 19, 2012. 3 Presentations at the Electrochemical Society Meeting, Hawaii, Fall 2012. Kimberley defends her Masters Thesis - Congratulations! 3 new PhD student join MER Lab. Jason defends his Doctoral dissertation- Dr.Jason! John defends his Masters Thesis - Master John! 3 MS and 1 PhD student of Dr. Chidambaram participate in the 2012 Spring Graduation ceremony 7 Presentations at the Electrochemical Society Meeting, Seattle, Spring 2012. |
