Dr Yagya Regmi

STAFF

Research Fellow

y.regmi@mmu.ac.uk

+44 (0)161 247 3225

Office location
JDT503 John Dalton Building, Manchester Campus

Yagya N Regmi website

Who am I?

I am an inorganic chemist interested in renewable energy storage and conversion. Our work relates to:

Developing advanced materials and catalysts
Electrochemical device fabrication (fuel cells, electrolysers and redox flow batteries)
Electrochemical testing (amperometry, potentiometry and impedance) using rotating disk electrodes, membrane electrode assemblies, test stations and cell stacks
Biomass valorisation to value-added platform chemicals
Techno-economic analysis of energy technologies

At the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre, we are developing affordable technologies to generate green hydrogen and then use the hydrogen to generate power to decarbonise the energy sector. My research group is developing efficient and economic materials, devices and methodologies to lower the cost of green hydrogen and clean energy using proton exchange membrane (PEM), anion exchange membrane (AEM) and solid oxide based fuel cells and electrolysers. We also coordinate with small and medium size businesses in the Greater Manchester Area to identify applications where fuel cells could be implemented as power sources.

Originally from Far-Western Nepal, I completed my undergraduate degree in 2005 at Lyon College in rural Arkansas, United States. I majored in Chemistry with a physics minor and also ran cross-country races for the varsity team. Then I decided to go back to Nepal for a few years prior to returning to finish PhD in 2015. In Wyoming, I studied inorganic chemistry to develop advanced catalysts for fuel cells and electrolysers. A complete change in field took me to Knoxville, Tennessee to investigate thermochemical conversion of biomass to value added platform chemicals at the Center for Renewable Carbon. Finally, in 2018, I ventured west to California to work at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab to study unitised regenerative fuel cells. These devices work as both fuel cells and electrolysers, and if optimised properly, have the potential to revolutionise the energy landscape.

Starting 2020, I joined the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre and the Chemistry Department at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Academic Biography

Academic and professional qualifications

PhD, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA, 2015

BS, Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas, USA, 2005

Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Previous employment

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Project Scientist/Engineer – 2019

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2018-2019

Center for Renewable Carbon, University of Tennessee, Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2016-2017

Languages

English

Nepali

Hindi

Teaching & Research Supervision

Why study Inorganic Chemistry?

Nanoparticles can be thought of as building blocks of functional materials as functional groups are for organics and biomaterials. We are starting to build up the library of nanomaterials and synthetic techniques to be able to impart unique properties on nanomaterials based heterostructures. In our research group, we solve present and anticipated energy problems by using devices that depend on unique properties of nanomaterials. From understanding basic reaction mechanisms to combining two or more nanoparticles, we create unique interfaces. Ultimate aim is to lower the cost of renewable energy by making electrocatalysis more efficient. Some of the questions we ask are:

– Do laws of fundamental chemical reactions such as SN1 and SN2 hold for nanostructure combination to generate unique nanoreactors?

– What is the structure-activity-stability relationship of nanomaterials and nanocomposites?

– How do structural and chemical properties change as we build heterostructures from nanoparticles?

Postgraduate teaching

Energy Materials (MSc Advanced Materials). We discuss materials that form components of fuel cells, electrolysers and other electrochemical devices. We specifically discuss materials choice for:

Catalysts and catalyst supports (PGM and non-PGM)
Membranes (PEM, AEM and Solide Oxide)
Transport layers (PTL, GDL, MPL, Bipolar Plates and flow fields)
Structural and electronic materials (End plates, current collectors, heating elements and gaskets)

Bulk Characterisation (MSc Advanced Materials). We assess physical, chemical and mechanical properties of bulk materials using X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, chemical analysis and microscopy. The aim is to equip students with skill to fully characterise materials, surfaces and devices. We go behind the theory and instrumentation for techniques associated with:

X-ray diffrction (XRD)
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Transimisson electron microscopy (TEM)
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
Raman
UV-vis
FTIR
Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area
Atomic force microscopy
And others

Postgraduate supervision (completed/in progress)

Co-supervising 2 PhD student and 2 Postdoctoral Research Associates (PDRAs)

Mentored 2 undergraduate students at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. (2018-2019)

Mentored 2 undergraduates, 1 graduate student and 3 visiting scholars at the University of Tennessee. (2016-2017)

Research Expertise, Publications & Grants

Research expertise

Electrochemistry

Fuel Cells

Renewable hydrogen production

Biomass valorisation

Ceramics

Catalysis

Academic collaborations

External

Prof. Andy Beale, UCL

Prof. Magnus Rønning, NTNU

Prof. Sarah Haigh, UoM

Dr. Leila Negahdar, UCL

Internal

Prof. Peter Kelly, MFCIC

Dr Laurie King, MFCIC

Publications

Journal articlesX. Peng, Z. Taie, J. Liu, Y. Zhang, X. Peng, et al. (2020). Hierarchical Electrode Design of Highly Efficient and Stable Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cells (URFCs) for Long-term Energy Storage. Energy & Environmental Science. 13(12), pp.4872-4881. YN. Regmi, E. Tzanetopoulos, G. Zeng, X. Peng, DI. Kushner, et al. (2020). Supported Oxygen Evolution Catalysts by Design: Toward Lower Precious Metal Loading and Improved Conductivity in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers. ACS Catalysis. 10(21), pp.13125-13135. YN. Regmi, X. Peng, JC. Fornaciari, M. Wei, DJ. Myers, et al. (2020). A Low Temperature Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell Realizing 60% Round Trip Efficiency and 10,000 Cycles of Durability for Energy Storage Applications. Energy & Environmental Science. 13(7), pp.2096-2105. JC. Fornaciari, MR. Gerhardt, J. Zhou, YN. Regmi, N. Danilovic, et al. (2020). The Role of Water in Vapor-fed Proton-Exchange-Membrane Electrolysis. Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 167(10), pp.104508-104508. YN. Regmi, D. Myers, AZ. Weber, N. Danilovic (2019). Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cells in Constant Gas and Constant Polarity Modes for Performance Optimization. ECS Meeting Abstracts. MA2019-02(33), pp.1468-1468. E. Tzanetopoulos, YN. Regmi, N. Danilovic (2019). Corrosion-Resistant Precious Metal Coated Oxide Nanoparticles As Supports for Iridium-Based Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts in Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers. ECS Meeting Abstracts. MA2019-02(54), pp.2308-2308. YN. Regmi, J. Fornaciari, M. Wei, D. Myers, AZ. Weber, et al. (2019). Experimental Analysis of Operating Conditions of Proton Exchange Membrane Based Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cells for Efficient and Economic Energy Conversion. ECS Meeting Abstracts. MA2019-01(29), pp.1462-1462. CW. Edmunds, C. Mukarakate, M. Xu, YN. Regmi, C. Hamilton, et al. (2019). Vapor-Phase Stabilization of Biomass Pyrolysis Vapors Using Mixed-Metal Oxide Catalysts. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 7(7), pp.7386-7394. YN. Regmi, JK. Mann, JR. McBride, J. Tao, CE. Barnes, et al. (2017). Catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis of organosolv lignin using B-containing FeNi alloyed catalysts. Catalysis Today. 302, pp.190-195. J. Stacy, YN. Regmi, B. Leonard, M. Fan (2017). The recent progress and future of oxygen reduction reaction catalysis: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 69, pp.401-414. YN. Regmi, GR. Waetzig, KD. Duffee, SM. Schmuecker, JM. Thode, et al. (2015). Carbides of group IVA, VA and VIA transition metals as alternative HER and ORR catalysts and support materials.Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 3(18), pp.10085-10091. C. Wan, YN. Regmi, BM. Leonard (2014). Multiple phases of molybdenum carbide as electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 53(25), pp.6407-6410. RD. Pace, Y. Regmi (2006). The Finkelstein Reaction: Quantitative Reaction Kinetics of an SN2 Reaction Using Nonaqueous Conductivity. Journal of Chemical Education. 83(9), pp.1344-1344.
ConferencesL. King, D. Belami, U. Jonnalagadda, W. Fan, J. Kwan, et al. (2023). Hollow TiO₂ Supports for Enhanced Acidic Oxygen Evolution Activity. In: ECS Meeting Abstracts. Gothenburg, Sweden, 10/10/2023. pp.2810-2810. Y. Pan, H. Ruan, Y. Regmi, B. Wu, H. Wang, et al. (2023). A Machine Learning Accelerated Hierarchical 3D+ 1D Model for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. In: https://ecs.confex.com/ecs/244/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/179293. Gothenburg, Sweden, 8/10/2023. Y. Regmi, T. Lau, D. Decarolis, A. Beale, M. Ronning, et al. (2023). Supported Iridium Catalysts for Water Electrolysers. In: https://ecs.confex.com/ecs/244/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/175537. Gothenburg, Sweden, 8/10/2023. Y. Regmi, E. Tzanetopoulos, N. Danilovic (2019). Oxide nanoparticles coated with corrosion resistant metals as anode catalyst layer fillers in proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. In: ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. San Diego, CA, 25/8/2019. H. Haber, P. Kim, S. Chmely, J. Lloyd, Y. Regmi, et al. (2018). Two-step process for recovery of copper naphthenate from end-of-life railroad ties. In: ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. New Orleans, LA, 18/3/2018. K. Rajan, J. Mann, Y. Regmi, D. Harper, N. Labbe, et al. (2018). Depolymerized lignin & acrylate-based renewable photopolymers. In: ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. New Orleans, LA, 18/3/2018. Y. Regmi, B. Leonard (2017). Comparative electrocatalytic activities of bimetallic oxides and carbides of iron, nickel and cobalt with tungsten and molybdenum as the second transition metal. In: ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. San Francisco, CA, 2/4/2017. Y. Regmi, S. Chmely, N. Labbe (2016). Nickel phosphide and molybdenum carbide composite materials for biomass upgrading. In: ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Y. Regmi (2016). Biomass upgrading using water splitting electrocatalysts. In: ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Y. Regmi, B. Leonard (2016). Hydration dependent electrocatalytic activities of bimetallic oxides of Ni, Co and Fe. In: ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. S. Chmely, Y. Regmi, P. Ciesielski (2016). Depolymerization and valorization of technical lignin using Ni and Fe boride catalysts. In: ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. Y. Regmi, C. Wan, K. Duffee, B. Leonard (2015). Comparative study of Fe2N type Mo2C electrocatalysts synthesized four different methods. In: ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY.
Reports

Invited papers

Regmi Y. N., Mann J. K., McBride J. R., Tao J., Barnes C. E., Labbé N., and Chmely S. C.“Catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis of organosolv lignin using B-containing FeNi alloyed catalysts.” Catal. Today (2018), 302, 190.

Stacy J., Regmi Y. N., Leonard B. M. and Fan M. “The Recent Progress and Future of Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysis: A review.” Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. (2017), 69, 401.

Conference organisation

“Chemistry of Materials: Materials for Energy & Catalytic Applications” at ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA. Aug 25-29 (2019)

“Chemistry of Materials: Materials for Energy & Catalytic Applications” invited session presider at 252nd ACS National Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Aug 21-25 (2016)

Expert reviewer for journals and publishers

ACS Catalysis

ChemSusChem

Journal of Power Sources

ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering

ACS Applied Energy Materials

Electrochimica Acta

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

ChemElectroChem

European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry

MRS Proceedings

Grants

EPSRC – UK Catalysis Hub (2020-21) – Stable and economic iridium catalysts for renewable energy technologies

Engagement & Knowledge Exchange

Exhibitions

• The Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose, CA, USA
Volunteer Exhibition Interpreter 2017– 2018

• Bay Area Science Festival, San Francisco, CA, USA 2017

• Lyon College, Batesville, AR, USA
Maths and Science Tutor Reorder volunteer experience Apple Project Upward Bound: Provide academic help in maths and sciences and motivate students from difficult social and economic backgrounds to attend colleges and universities. 2001–20015

Consultancy and advisory roles

Added Value Solutions UK (AVS UK) (2021 – present)

Patents

Provisional Patents

1. “Conductive and stable catalyst supports and microporous layer materials for high voltage applications” – 2-19-050. Nemanja Danilovic and Yagya Regmi, 2019.

2. “Carbide-Phosphide Catalysts and Methods There of” – Serial Number 62/353389. Stephen Chmely, Nicole Labbé and Yagya Narayan Regmi, 2016.

Impact and influence on policy

Technical expert to All-Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group (APPCCG) on the topic of hydrogen fuel cells for decarbonisation of transportation in the UK. (March – October 2020).
Published essay with MP Alexander Stafford titled “Achieving Net Zero Emissions from the UK Transport Sector by 2050: The role of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles” as part of the APPCCG Net Zero Exchanges: Connecting policy and research for climate action.
Technical Reviewer for the Henry Royce Institute “Materials for the Energy Transition Roadmap: Materials for low-carbon production of hydrogen and related energy carriers and chemical feedstocks”. March – July 2020.

Awards, Honours & Distinctions

Expert reviewer for external funding bodies

Member of the Associate College of EPSRC Reviewers (2021 – onwards)

Membership of professional associations

American Chemical Society

The Elecetrochemical Society

Materials Research Society

American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Dr Yagya Regmi is an inorganic chemist interested in chemistry of energy storage and conversion with emphasis on renewable energy. Within the field, Dr Regmi’s work spans developing advanced materials, catalysis, device fabrication, electrochemical testing, and techno-economic analysis of various energy technologies. At Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre, his focus is on electrochemical generation of hydrogen and implementing fuel cells as power sources in various applications to decarbonise the energy sector.

Dr Regmi is part of the team developing efficient and economic components and devices to lower the cost of hydrogen generation and usage. The team coordinates with small and medium size businesses in Greater Manchester to identify applications where hydrogen could be implemented to generate power.

In 2020, Dr Regmi joined Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre and the Department of Natural Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University, having previously studied unitised regenerative fuel cells at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in California. Prior to that, Dr Regmi studied thermochemical conversion of biomass to value added platform chemicals at the Center for Renewable Carbon in Tenessee.