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Christina Johnston, Ph.D.

Senior Manager for Electrochemistry and Materials, Synthesis and Characterization and Senior Expert for Fuel Cell Electrochemistry

A new type of thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move toward higher levels.

Albert Einstein, The New Quotable Einstein | “One planet, one experiment.” ― Edward O. Wilson
Christina Johnston, PhD

I manage and contribute to research in electrochemistry and materials, which includes fuel cells, batteries, and emerging topics. Previously, at LANL, I focused on fuel cells, especially catalysts, supports, and electrodes. At Bosch, my team engages in electrochemical material and device development (e.g., fuel cells, batteries, water purification), material property measurement, and advanced characterization.

Please tell us what fascinates you most about research.
I enjoy the process of transforming an idea into reality, especially through teamwork. This applies equally to inventing new materials, gaining understanding of existing materials to use them more effectively, and combining these elements to create an entirely new or best-in-class device.

What makes the research done at Bosch so special?
At Bosch, research spans everything from fundamental studies to direct contributions to products. We benefit from collaboration between our international teams.

What research topics are you currently working on at Bosch?
We address lifetime challenges in fuel cells through electrochemistry and materials approaches, provide materials information that enables better usage of existing batteries, and develop new ideas for materials and devices, such as for water purification applications.

What are the biggest scientific challenges in your field of research?
The overall cost of fuel cells must come down, without reducing their service lives. This is difficult to achieve, as reducing platinum and decreasing membrane thickness tend to decrease the durability of the fuel cell.

How do the results of your research become part of solutions “Invented for life”?
A widespread adoption of fuel cell vehicles would enable a significant net reduction in CO₂ emissions compared with fossil-fuel vehicles, which would contribute to the mitigation of climate change. Additionally, fuel cell vehicles emit only water, unlike fossil-fuel vehicles, which emit particulate matter, VOCs, NOx, and SO₂, contributing to poor air quality and creating health risks.

Curriculum vitae

Since 2018
Senior Manager and Senior Expert, Electrochemistry and Materials, Bosch

2015
Lead Engineer, led battery experimentalist team, Bosch

2008
Scientist, led a fuel cell project, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Christina Johnston, Ph.D.

Selected publications

Secondary battery management

Ravi et al. (2017)

Secondary battery management
  • Nikhil Ravi, Anahita MirTabatabaei, Reinhardt Klein, Ashish Krupadanam, John F Christensen, Aleksandar Kojic, Sarah Stewart, Sun Ung Kim, Christina Johnston
  • US Patent Application 15010873
The effect of cathode structures on Nafion membrane durability

Choi et al. (2014)

The effect of cathode structures on Nafion membrane durability
  • Baeck Choi, David A Langlois, Nate Mack, Christina M Johnston, Yu Seung Kim
  • Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 161, Iss. 12, pp F1154-F1162
Highly durable fuel cell electrodes based on ionomers dispersed in glycerol

Kim et al. (2014)

Highly durable fuel cell electrodes based on ionomers dispersed in glycerol
  • YS Kim, CF Welch, NH Mack, RP Hjelm, EB Orler, ME Hawley, KS Lee, S-D Yim, CM Johnston
  • Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Vol. 16, Iss. 13, pp 5927-5932
Minimizing electrode contamination in an electrochemical cell

Kim et al. (2014)

Minimizing electrode contamination in an electrochemical cell
  • Yu Seung Kim, Piotr Zelenay, Christina Johnston
  • US Patent 8906575

Get in touch with me

Christina Johnston, Ph.D.
Senior Manager for Electrochemistry and Materials, Synthesis and Characterization and Senior Expert for Fuel Cell Electrochemistry

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