Research Interests:

Todd J. Toops has been in the Fuels, Engines and Emissions Research Center (FEERC) since 2001. His research focuses on the catalytic and kinetic processes occurring in emissions control devices and how these processes are impacted by fuel composition, oil additives, and vehicle lifetime. To effectively study these effects, accurate kinetic evaluation is essential in addition to detailed catalyst and material characterization. The proximity of FEERC to ORNL’s world-class High Temperature Materials Laboratory (HTML) facilitates this approach. In addition to this core research, Todd has worked with ORNL’s Center for Nanophase Material Science (CNMS) to investigate novel catalyst formulations and synthesis techniques, and has leveraged his expertise in catalysis and energy applications to broaden his research into fuel cell technologies.

Selected current research themes include:

• Sulfation and desulfation studies of NOx Storage/Reduction (NSR) catalysts
• Development of rapid aging and poisoning protocols for emissions control devices
• DRIFTS-based study of HC inhibition on zeolite-based NH3-SCR NOx abatement catalysts
• Effect of Bio-diesel blends on soot morphology, composition and oxidation
• Impact and durability of metallic bipolar plates on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance
• Intra-PEMFC study of CO-poisoning using Spaci-MS