Research facilities

Research facilities

The Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Laboratory (SHEL) research group has access to RMIT's world-class facilities.

The Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Laboratory (SHEL) research group has access to RMIT's world-class facilities.

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A fully equipped dedicated sustainable hydrogen energy laboratory (SHEL)

  • Fully certified hydrogen supply line (both high pressure at 137 bar, and metal hydride systems)
  • Purpose designed and built safety interlock system for safe operation
  • Dedicated specialised fume cupboard
  • Gas conditioning units
  • Electronic equipment (e.g. electronic load, convertors and invertors, dedicated data acquisition units)
  • Electrochemistry equipment (e.g. EIS machines, CV test systems, FTIR Spectroscopy system)
  • Glove boxes, magnetic stirrers, water de-ionising unit
  • Dedicated equipment for hydrogen systems assembly
  • Several fully functional open/closed cathode PEM fuel cells (up to 2.5 kW) and electrolysers (up to 5 kW)

Chemistry laboratories 

  • Polymer synthesis equipment 
  • Nanoparticle synthesis equipment 
  • MEA device fabrication through spin coating and electrospinning
  • Electrochemical workstation
  • Rheological facility
  • Dynamic light scattering
  • Thermal analysis
  • Thermogravimetric analysis
  • Micromeritics Tristar (gas sorption analysis)
  • Cary 5000 UV-Visible Spectrophotometer
  • Rheometer for viscoelastic property evaluation and flow properties of catalyst slurry characterisation
  • UTS for thermo-mechanical behaviour
  • Thermogravimetry for thermal characterization of materials (membrane and catalyst)
  • Spectroscopy for membrane and catalyst characterization
  • Electrochemical devices for catalytic activity, proton conductivity, and performance evaluation
  • Polymer processing facility
  • Electrochemical devices

 

The laboratory for innovative fluid thermal systems

  • Micro Particle Imaging Velocimetry (µPIV) system
  • Infrared thermometry
  • A phantom high-speed camera and various other temperature measurement and flow visualisation systems
  • Electrical, thermal and flow testing from the micro to macroscale

Other facilities

  • Wet chemistry laboratory
  • Access to RMIT's Advanced Manufacturing Precinct (AMP)
  • Micro/Nano Research Facility (MNRF)
  • Access to supercomputing facilities throughout Australia, including the National Computational Infrastructure Facility, and Pawsey Supercomputing Centre and MASSIVE 
  • Reactor for fuel cracking (methane, diesel fuel, etc.)
  • Reactor to study heat transfer of fuels
  • Reactor for the CO2 hydrogenation
  • Reactor for the CO2 reforming of methane
  • Reactor for ammonia decomposition
  • High-pressure PARR reactors for hydrogenation reaction

Find out more

Research Capabilities

The Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Laboratory (SHEL) research group is a multidisciplinary team of internationally-recognised experts with a wide range of capabilities.

Key research projects

The Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Laboratory (SHEL) research group members lead key projects in the hydrogen areas.

Key research publications

The Sustainable Hydrogen Energy Laboratory (SHEL) research group publishes research in leading peer-reviewed journals.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information