B.S., Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, 2015. Honors Research advised by Prof. Paul E. Laibinis
Ph. D., Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 2020. Thesis advised by Prof. Nathan S. Lewis
My research interests are broadly defined by electrochemistry used for deep decarbonization. Electrochemistry is the science of using electricity to drive chemical reactions. Deep decarbonization is the process of eliminating human-caused emissions of CO2, which are currently associated with most of the energy and materials that we consume. Electrochemistry provides a pathway for the use of emissions-free sources of electricity to deliver reliable electricity, power manufacturing processes, and produce energy dense fuels.
Specifically, my group researches electrochemical interfaces used for long-duration energy storage, devices for zero-emissions iron making, and advanced cell designs for green hydrogen production.
As Associate Director for the Oregon Center for Electrochemistry I lead industry partnerships and sponsored projects for the Master’s Internship in Electrochemical Technology. With the Liquid Sunlight Alliance, I study the durability of catalysts that convert sunlight, water, and CO2 into fuels and commodity chemicals. With the Center for Interfacial Ionics, I study the fundamental kinetics and transport of ion-transfer reactions required for energy storage.
Noble, B. B., Moutarlier, L. J., & Kempler, P. A., (2023). Electrochemical Chlor-Iron Process for Iron Production from Iron Oxide and Seawater. In review. chemRxiv preprint available: https://chemrxiv.org/engage/chemrxiv/article-details/63f67ea732cd591f12549219
Kempler, P. A., Slack, J.J., & Baker, A. M. (2022). Research Priorities for Seasonal Energy Storage Using Electrolyzers and Fuel Cells. Joule. 6(2), 280-285
Kempler, P. A., Boettcher, S. W., & Ardo, S. (2021). Reinvigorating Electrochemistry Education. iScience. 24(5)
Kempler, P. A., Ricther, M. H., Cheng, W.H., Brunschwig, B.S., & Lewis, N.S. (2020). Si Microwire-Array Photocathodes Decorated with Cu Allow CO2 Reduction with Minimal Parasitic Absorption of Sunlight. ACS Energy Letters. 5(8), 2528-2534
Kempler, P.A., Coridan, R.H., Lewis N.S. (2020). Effects of Bubbles on the Electrochemical Behavior of Hydrogen-Evolving Si Microwire Arrays Oriented Against Gravity. Energy & Environmental Science. 13, 1808-1817
Kempler, P. A., Gonzalez, M. A., Papadantonakis, K. M., & Lewis, N. S. (2018). Hydrogen evolution with minimal parasitic light absorption by dense Co–P catalyst films on structured p-Si photocathodes. ACS Energy Letters, 3(3), 612-617.