Scratching the Surface of Innovation by Amaya Cook

For the summer of 2025, I had the privilege of continuing an ongoing research project with my mentor sponsored through the Office of Connected Learning’s undergrad research program. Methane is a greenhouse gas that can be made from biowaste in a biodegester. Methane then can undergo a process called Steam Methane Reformation to synthesize Hydrogen. Last summer I made thin films to experiment with materials to be used in a support for Steam Methane Reformation that would make the synthesizing of Hydrogen more efficient than the standard today.

This summer I focused on making a material that can store the hydrogen produced reversibly and with high gravimetric and volumetric capacity for use in fuel cells. Meaning we want to store as much hydrogen in as small of a space as possible to make storage more efficient for use in hydrogen powered automobiles and other fuel cell applications.

I read several journal articles, by my mentor’s suggestions, on Hydrogen Spillover Effect(HSPE). HSPE is a debated phenomenon that is being studied for the use of storing hydrogen for renewable energy applications. How it is thought to work is that metal nanoparticles on top of particular supports can dissociate hydrogen molecules to single atoms by bonding and then “spilling” the hydrogen through the metal to the support surface.

The articles suggested several characteristics and traits of supports that encourage hydrogen spillover, one of which being supports with defects. Graphite was chosen for the support because of it’s porous features. I collaborated with my professor and we decided to try to “scratch” the graphite on the surface by sanding the sample with sandpaper. After making our “defected” samples we deposited Titanium on scratched graphite and regular graphite. 

Then the resistivity of the samples needed to be measured to describe how our material was behaving after the deposition, does it conduct like a metal, semiconductor, etc.? How well the material conducts can potentially encourage the bonding of hydrogen to the sample as well. This was a very hands on task as the cryostat needed to be slightly altered to hold the sample still under vacuum.

I collaborated with Dr. Ramachandran and campus machinist to design a plate and pogo probe set up to take the measurement. This involved printing several 3D model prototypes and lots of practice drawing several designs. I learned how to accurately draw models to scale, it definitely took me a few trials as the measurements were very small and precise. As someone trying to enter the UW Bothell Electrical Engineering program, the Resistivity test was very engaging as we navigated making a controlled current source for our measurements. 

The data for the resistivity of the various sample types was finished right at the end of the research, largely due to the set back machining and designing the setup. However, each test is also very laborious and time consuming, we have to pull vacuums and wait for samples to reach cryogenic temperatures. We often redo the same test several times for reproducibility and troubleshooting errors if you don’t find reproducibility. There is a general consensus that the resistance of the samples decreases as temperature rises, but what exactly this says for our material cannot be definitively stated without more analysis.

I learned that while running out of time is not ideal, it’s important to practice good lab etiquette. Take the time to make sure you are producing good honest science – even if you won’t meet all your expected goals! 

I would encourage future research students to collaborate! Your professor is an expert in their field and research, but no one can be an expert in everything. The more effort you take to reach out to faculty and students with questions, the more diverse and rich your resources for your project will become. Some students may hesitate and feel like they are using others for academic gain. However, if someone agrees to help you it’s more likely than not they have passion and interest in your problem!

Learn more about the Research & Creative Projects for Undergraduates at UW Bothell.