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Process Systems Engineering Lab
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The lab uses measurement and computation to reveal what happens inside batteries.
AboutAbout the lab
Combining measurement and computation to understand the inside of batteries
The Process Systems Engineering Lab studies batteries and electrochemical systems with next-generation vehicles and future energy management systems in mind.
Looking across scales from nanoscale material interfaces to real operating environments, the lab clarifies internal reactions, mass transport, and the factors that govern them, and proposes guidelines and technical improvements for higher performance.
The lab's motto is "five-in-one": real-material measurement, real complex three-dimensional structures, integration of measurement and computation, theoretical model development, and optimal design support.
Its targets include lithium-ion batteries, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, all-solid-state batteries, air batteries, redox flow batteries, and lithium-sulfur batteries.
Key terms
- Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC)
- A type of fuel cell that generates electricity from hydrogen and oxygen. As an automotive power source, it is required to have higher efficiency and lower cost.
- Catalyst layer
- Generally a layer consisting of a carbon black framework, an electrolyte, and voids. Electrons, protons, and reactant gases are transported through their respective phases.
- Carbon black
- Carbon particles that form the framework of the catalyst layer. Particle diameters are generally about 20 to 50 nm.
NewsLab news
Master's students won the Outstanding Poster Award at the 57th Autumn Meeting of the Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan
A doctoral student won a Poster Award at the 2026 Gordon Research Conference on Fuel Cells
A master's student won the Outstanding Poster Award at the 63rd Joint Kyushu Conference of Chemistry-Related Societies
A master's student won the Outstanding Poster Award at the 36th Kyushu Young Chemical Engineers Discussion Meeting
A master's student won the Outstanding Poster Award at the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Symposium
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to clarify the reactions and mass transport inside batteries and electrochemical systems and to create guidelines for higher performance. Focusing on fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and similar systems, it combines measurement of real materials and structures with numerical simulation.
*Illustrative imageEvaluating the microstructure of fuel cell catalyst layers
Using advanced measurement equipment such as electron microscopy and X-ray CT, the lab reveals the microstructure of real catalyst layers, which have pores of several tens of nanometers up to about 100 nm. It compares the transport properties of numerically reconstructed structures with theoretical models, and proposes solutions to catalyst layer problems and guidelines for improving performance.
*Illustrative imageReaction-transport simulation inside fuel cells
The lab develops large-scale simulators that couple electrochemical reactions and mass transport inside the catalyst layer, which are difficult to measure directly. It models the aggregate structure of carbon black, the electrolyte coating structure, and the distribution of platinum catalyst to study their effects, and also analyzes two-phase flow of liquid water.
*Illustrative imageStructural design of catalyst layers suited to new materials
The cell performance of new catalysts and electrolytes is evaluated with structures and conditions that were optimized for conventional materials, which are not necessarily suited to the new materials. Working with materials development groups, the lab identifies ideal structures through numerical analysis and theory, and attempts to fabricate them by methods such as inkjet printing.
*Illustrative imageMultiscale simulation of fuel cells
In addition to analyzing reaction and transport within the catalyst layer, the lab simulates multiphase, multicomponent reaction and transport inside flow channels, cells, and stacks across scales. On this basis, it conducts research on the design and stable control of entire systems.
MembersFaculty
Members of the Process Systems Engineering Lab include faculty, academic researchers, technical staff, administrative staff, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorGen Inoue
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Lithium-Ion Battery for BMW i3 - Battery Pack” RudolfSimon / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Evaluating the microstructure of fuel cell catalyst layers: “Microstructure of a stainless steel” Djhé / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Reaction-transport simulation inside fuel cells: “X-43A (Hyper - X) Mach 7 computational fluid dynamic (CFD)” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Structural design of catalyst layers suited to new materials: “40 KW KILOWATT PHOSPHORIC ACID FUEL CELL PROGRAM - NARA - 17500126” 作者不詳 / Public domain (cropped)
- Multiscale simulation of fuel cells: “Fuel Cell Model Car” matthew venn from london, uk / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layer Lab): “Carbon-Paper Indigo x )” Emilian Robert Vicol from Com. Balanesti, Romania / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layer Lab (Tatsumi Kitahara)): “Hectographic Carbon Paper” CatalinaDurhan / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Hydrogen Utilization Process Lab): “Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles at ITM Power Hydrogen Station” Bexim / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Fusion and Tritium Lab): “Blausen 0530 HydrogenIsotopes” BruceBlaus / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
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