Dr Mohammed Ismail

Senior Lecturer - Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies

m.s.ismail@hull.ac.uk

Faculty and Department

Faculty of Science and Engineering
School of Engineering

Biography Teaching Outputs Research/PhD Recognition

Qualifications

BSc
MSc
PhD / DPhil

Summary

Dr Ismail is a senior lecturer in chemical engineering and has joined School of Engineering in 2022. He is an expert in multiscale modelling, operation and integration of renewable and/or electrochemical energy units and systems. His PhD study, funded by the EPSRC and Shell UK, was on the characterisation and numerical modelling of the porous media used in the clean technology of the hydrogen fuel cells. After completing his PhD, Dr Ismail has worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds and then at the University of Sheffield. Equipped with strong expertise in multiscale modelling and experimental characterisation, he has been an instrumental member for various research projects which involve the use of renewable and/or electrochemical technologies such as fuel cells, solar collectors, batteries, electrolysers and photovoltaics.

Dr Ismail has, as of November 2022, published more than 50 refereed journal articles, two patents and two book chapters. His research is currently centered on (i) innovating new designs and/or materials to boost the efficiency and the cost-effectiveness of the hydrogen-consuming (e.g. hydrogen fuel cells) and generating (electrolysers) technologies through numerical modelling and/or experimental means, (ii) multiphysics modelling of membrane distillation which is an efficient seawater desalination method and (iii) used of molten carbonate fuel cells as a carbon capture solution.

If you are interested in doing a PhD in any of these areas or working with Dr Ismail, please contact him directly.

I am the module leader and teaching:

Level 4: Thermofluids (441058)

Level 7: MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering Research Project (771750)

while contribute in teaching/supervising as a co-tutor/supervisor in:

Level 4: Engineering Global Challenge I (400456)

Level 5: Engineering Global Challenge II (500661)

Level 6: Engineering Individual Project (601082)

Level 7: Sustainable Engineering Systems (701008)

Level 7: Individual Project (MSc) (700986)

Recent outputs

View more outputs

Journal Article

Editorial: Current Advances in Fuel Cell Technology

Rosli, M. I., & Ismail, M. S. (2025). Editorial: Current Advances in Fuel Cell Technology. Energies, 18(8), https://doi.org/10.3390/en18081950

Comparative analysis and optimization of performance of air-breathing and conventional PEM fuel cells

Abdulrahman, F., Ismail, M. S., & Sarathy, S. M. (2025). Comparative analysis and optimization of performance of air-breathing and conventional PEM fuel cells. Fuel, 390, Article 134723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.134723

Characterisation of double-sided graphene microporous layers for improved polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance

Ruscillo, F., Ismail, M. S., Gautama, Z. A., Nishihara, M., Hughes, K. J., Ingham, D. B., Ma, L., & Pourkashanian, M. (2025). Characterisation of double-sided graphene microporous layers for improved polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 98, 576-589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.12.094

Polymer electrolyte fuel cell operating with nickel foam-based gas diffusion layers: A numerical investigation

Ercelik, M., Ismail, M. S., Hughes, K. J., Ingham, D. B., Ma, L., & Pourkashanian, M. (2025). Polymer electrolyte fuel cell operating with nickel foam-based gas diffusion layers: A numerical investigation. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 104, 496-512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.05.084

Influence of catalyst agglomerate internal structure on PEFC performance investigated by a multiscale numerical model

Tian, J., Ismail, M. S., Hughes, K. J., Ingham, D. B., Ma, L., & Pourkashanian, M. (2024). Influence of catalyst agglomerate internal structure on PEFC performance investigated by a multiscale numerical model. Fuel, 371, pt.A, Article 131862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2024.131862

Research interests

Mohammed’s main research focus is to boost the efficiency of the low temperature hydrogen fuel cells through proposing new designs and materials. In addition to that, his research interests cover the following areas:

- Innovation and characterisation of cheap and high-performance catalysts, porous media and membrane electrolytes for hydrogen fuel cells and electrolysers

- Multiscale and multiphysics modelling of hydrogen fuel cells

- Multiscale and multiphysics modelling of membrane distillation desalination modules

Funder

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Grant

£1,500.00

Started

1 November 2023

Status

Complete

Co-investigator

Project

Funder

Grant

Started

Status

Project

Wolfson Equipment bid 2023 - Confocal Imaging ZEISS Elyra 7 with Lattice SIM²

Funder

Wolfson Foundation

Grant

£500,000.00

Started

1 October 2024

Status

Ongoing

Postgraduate supervision

Dr Ismail welcomes applications for PhD, MPhil and MSc by Research Degrees in all the following areas: hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen electrolysers, molten carbonate fuel cell as a carbon capture solution, and membrane distillation desalination. Please contact him directly to discuss research topics.

Current PhD Students (co-supervised along with colleagues from the University of Sheffield):

- Qizhi Ba, Novel Microporous Layers for Hydrogen Fuel Cells (2022 - 2026)

- Laraib Nisar, Non-Precious Graphene Foam Based Catalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (2021 - 2025)

- Fernando Ruscillo, Novel and High-performance Gas Diffusion Layers for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (2020 - 2024)

- Fatma Calili, Efficient PEFCs for Portable Applications (2019 - 2023)

- Mustafa Ercelik, Nanoscale Imaging of Cathode Electrodes used in PEFCs (2019 - 2023)

- Jinbei Tian, Novel Non-precious Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction (2019 - 2023)

- Florence Lee, A Novel Multifunctional Porous Layer for Low Temperature PEFCs (2018 - 2022)

- Isaac Okereke, Novel Gas Diffusion Layers for PEFCs (2018-2022)

Completed PhD supervision:

- Fahad Aldakheel, Compressibility of Porous Media Used in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells, University of Sheffield (2017 - 2021)

- Narvin Neehall, Gas Diffusivity of Porous Media used in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells, University of Sheffield (2015-2020)

- Raja Aslam, Visualisation of Water and Thermal Distributions in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells, University of Sheffield (2014 - 2018)

- Olutomisin Orogbemi, Gas Permeability of Gas Diffusion Media used in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells, University of Sheffield (2013 - 2017)

Awards and prizes

JSPS London 30th Anniversary Award for outstanding contributions to UK-Japan academic collaboration

2024

The award ceremony took place on 4th September at the University of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum and I was awarded for the best follow-on research achievements since my JSPS Symposium and Seminar Scheme Award.

Vice Chancellor's Learning and Teaching Awards

2022 - 2022

I have been nominated for the Vice Chancellor's Learning and Teaching Awards 2022 at the University of Sheffield

Fully-funded PhD studentship on carbon foam based catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells, EPSRC-DTP (Co-I, £135K)

2021 - 2025

Development of efficient fuel cells for hybrid vehicles, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia (PI, £10K)

2021 - 2022

Development and evaluation of integrated systems for the provision of drinking water, electricity and fuel to rural communities, QR GCRF (Co-I, £90K)

2020 - 2021

Evaluation of different CCUS systems based on the MCFC technology for decarbonising the power generation sector, UKCCSRC (Co-I, £30K)

2020 - 2021

Recognised as one of the brilliant all-round supervisors

2019 - 2022

I have been recognised as one of brilliant all-round supervisors that make a difference to doctoral students at the University of Sheffield

Fundamental Insights into Advanced Functional Carbon-based Materials as Fe-N-C Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction, Royal Society-JSPS International Exchange Grant, (PI, £12K)

2018 - 2020

A novel and highly efficient fuel cell system used to power small electronic devices. An EPSRC Proof of Concept project (via the funding of the University Knowledge Transfer Scheme) (Co-I, £50K)

2013 - 2013

Conference organisation

1st UK-Japan Symposium on Advanced Materials for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

2021

External examiner role

External Examiner

2024

Honorary position

Visiting Lecturer to University of Sheffield

2022

Journal editorial role

Associate Principal Editor at Fuel Elsevier

2023

My main responsibility involves handling manuscripts focused on fuel cells, hydrogen production, and electrochemical energy-related devices.

Guest Editor

2022

Special Issue "Current Advances in Fuel Cell Technology", Energies, MDPI

Topic Editor

2020

Special Topic: "Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells: from Fundamentals to Applications", Frontiers in Energy Research

Journal peer reviewer

Regular Reviewer for a number of world-leading journals

2012

I am a regular reviewer for the following journals: - Journal of Power Sources (2020 Impact Factor = 9.13) - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2020 Impact Factor = 5.82) - Journal of Electrochemical Society (2020 Impact Factor = 4.32) - Applied Energy (2020 Impact Factor = 9.75) - Journal of Membrane Science (2020 Impact Factor = 8.74) - Desalination (2020 Impact Factor = 9.50) - Electrocatalysis (2020 Impact Factor = 2.71) - Electrochimica Acta (2020 Impact Factor = 6.90) - Environmental Pollution (2020 Impact Factor = 8.07) - ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (2020 Impact Factor = 8.20) - Renewable Energy (2020 Impact Factor = 8.00) - Chemical Engineering Science (2020 Impact Factor = 4.31) - Fuel Cells (2020 Impact Factor = 2.25)

Membership/Fellowship of professional body

A member of UKRI Talent Peer Review College

2023

Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

2020

Associate member of IChemE

2017

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Dr Mohammed Ismail

Faculty and Department

Related groups

Qualifications

Summary

Recent outputs

Journal Article

Research interests

Lead investigator

Reduced-cost components for hydrogen fuel cells (focussing on platinum-free catalysts and alternative electrolytes) to ultimately expedite decarbonisation of the automotive sector

Sustainable, Low-cost and Durable Polymers for Green Hydrogen Conversion Technologies

Efficient and cost-effective system to produce and utilise offshore green hydrogen

The Content Engine

Development of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Modelling Capability

2nd UK-Japan Symposium on Advanced Materials for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

Co-investigator

Wolfson Equipment bid 2023 - Confocal Imaging ZEISS Elyra 7 with Lattice SIM²

Postgraduate supervision

Awards and prizes

Conference organisation

External examiner role

Honorary position

Journal editorial role

Journal peer reviewer

Membership/Fellowship of professional body

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