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Fuels & Chemicals for the Future

The Leonard Lab at the University of Kansas is dedicated to advancing electrochemistry and machine learning to address critical challenges in energy, sustainability, and resource recovery. We develop innovative electrochemical materials, processes, and data-driven technologies designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and enable scalable solutions for real-world challenges.

About the Leonard Lab

The Leonard Lab is an electrochemistry focused research group in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Kansas. Our research combines electrochemistry, catalysis, and data science to develop innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through the integration of fundamental science, emerging technologies, and data-driven approaches, we aim to advance impactful electrochemical technologies. Explore our research, publications, and opportunities for prospective students below.
Scholarly Works Scholarly Works
Research Research
Prospective Students Prospective Students

Leonard Lab News

American Chemical Society

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Lectureship Award Winner

Professor Kevin Leonard was honored with the ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Lectureship Award for his multiple contributions to the field of sustainable chemistry and engineering, including the production, at scale, of clean hydrogen and the development of CO2-expanded electrolytes that offer potential in the rapidly developing area of synthetic electrochemistry.
ACS Award Winners
Josena Basketball Champion

Basketball Champion - Spring 2025

Leonard Lab Group Member Josena Frame's basketball team won the Women's Intramural Basketball Championship. The lab came out to watch her game in Allen Fieldhouse this spring with posters of support! Congratulations Josena on being a baller on the court and in the lab!

Professor Kevin C. Leonard

Kevin C. Leonard is the leader of the Leonard Lab. He is a Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Kansas, a member of the Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, and Associate Dean of Research for the School of Engineering.

Prof. Kevin C. Leonard

Picture of Prof. Kevin C. Leonard

Research Topics

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Electrocatalysis

Discovering new materials and reaction media to catalyze electrochemical reactions for the creation of renewable fuels and chemicals in an environmentally-beneficial manner.
Electrocatalysis Projects
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Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM)

Advancing characterization techniques for catalytic and electrocatalytic materials to increase fundamental understanding of reaction mechanisms.
SECM Projects
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Harnessing Data & Machine Learning

Developing novel data mining and extraction methodologies to accelerate catalytic insights and innovations.
Data Projects
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CO₂ Expanded Electrolytes

Utilizing CO₂, otherwise released as waste product, as a feedstock to produce value-added products.
CXE Projects