Dr Richard Dawson
Honorary ResearcherProfile
Richard began his academic life at Girton College Cambridge where he studied Engineering specialising in Mechanical Engineering. After a brief spell as an engineering consultant he continued his academic studies at Imperial College Chemical Engineering Department. Here he investigated the electrochemical recovery of platinum and palladium from spent catalyst as part of a CASE award project sponsored by Johnson Matthey. Following his PhD he spent around 6 years working for fuel cell start- ups in the south east of the UK before moving up to Lancaster to help begin the Chemical Engineering degree and continue academic research into electrochemical energy conversion devices and aligned processes. In 2017 with a group of previous colleagues he helped found LiNa Energy, the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é sodium metal chloride battery company where he has been full-time CTO since 2021. He continues to collaborates extensively with the school of Engineering and Department of Chemistry
Research Overview
Richard's research interests are focused around electrochemical engineering in the field of energy conversion technologies and resource efficiency.
More specifically he has interests in:
- Fuel cells
- Batteries
- Electrochemical based recovery and separation processes
- Electrochemical reactor design and operation
Career Details
Having a background in both Mechanical and Chemical Engineering and a strong interest in the alternative energy sector, Richard was well placed to take up R&D science and engineering positions in the fuel cell sector where he has been working since 2006. At Ceres Power (Intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells) he was involved in a wide range of activities such as the development of a novel electrolyte deposition process and current collection concepts which have been, or are being patented. Following this Richard moved to AFC Energy where he was a Senior Scientist developing alkaline fuel cells for stationary applications. At Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é he continued electrochemical engineering research funded by UK research councils (EPSRC), Innovate UK, BEIS and industry. He has been full-time CTO of LiNa Energy Ltd. since 2021. In teaching he delivered modules in particle technology, chemical engineering design and process safety. He has been director of studies for the MSc in Safety Engineering and Director of Undergradaute Teaching for Engineering at Lancaster
Professional Role
Richard is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering and Technical Director of LiNa Energy Ltd.
01/03/2020 → 30/07/2021
Research
18/03/2019 → 08/09/2019
Research
01/02/2019 → 06/07/2021
Research
01/11/2018 → 31/10/2019
Research
01/10/2018 → 31/03/2019
Research
01/07/2018 → 31/03/2019
Research
01/06/2018 → 31/10/2019
Research
01/10/2017 → ¡
Research
30/05/2016 → 30/04/2017
Research
01/03/2015 → 30/11/2018
Research
05/01/2015 → 04/01/2018
Research
01/05/2014 → 31/05/2015
Research
22/10/2013 → 21/01/2015
Research
01/01/2013 → 31/12/2016
Research
01/10/2012 → 30/09/2015
Research
Symposium
Editorial activity
Member of Advisory Panel
Prize (including medals and awards)
Prize (including medals and awards)
Prize (including medals and awards)
Prize (including medals and awards)
Prize (including medals and awards)
Centre for Global Eco-innovation , Manufacturing
- Centre for Global Eco-innovation
- Energy Lancaster