Prof.Dr. Farqad Ali Latif, a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering at the College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, has published two scientific research papers in the field of hydrogen production technologies in two international journals indexed in Scopus with notable impact factors.
The first paper, titled: “Evaluation of the Accuracy of Electrochemical Techniques in Predicting the Performance of Industrial Alkaline Water Electrolyzers for Hydrogen Production: Effects of Surface Variations of the Electrocatalyst”, was published in the journal Chemical Engineering Research and Design, which is classified in Quartile 2 (Q2) and has an impact factor of 3.7.
This research investigates the effectiveness of several electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, Tafel analysis, and chronoamperometry—in evaluating the performance of alkaline water electrolyzers for hydrogen production. The experiments involved electrodes made from different materials, including pure Ti, TiO₂, Ag, and Ag+TiO₂ nanocomposites. The results revealed discrepancies between laboratory and industrial performance, leading the researcher to recommend combining electrochemical analysis with surface characterization techniques for more accurate and reliable industrial performance assessment.
The second paper, titled: “Experimental Investigation of the Performance of Two Low-Cost 5-kW Alkaline Electrolyzer Prototypes Based on Size and Applied Voltage”, was published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, which is classified in Quartile 1 (Q1) and has an impact factor of 8.1.
This study focused on the experimental performance of two low-cost 5-kW alkaline electrolyzer prototypes by testing stacks of different sizes (400 cm² and 825 cm²) under various NaOH concentrations. The results showed the smaller prototype (400 cm²) outperformed the larger one in terms of current density and energy efficiency, achieving hydrogen production at a rate of 5 SLPM at 15 volts and 5% NaOH concentration.
These two studies represent a significant scientific contribution to the field of hydrogen production and clean energy, offering results and recommendations that support global efforts toward sustainable energy and the development of practical and efficient solutions in this vital area. Moreover, this research supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which promotes quality education, and SDG 17, which calls for partnerships to achieve the goals.
