Looking for students or interns
Areas of expertise
Applied electrochemistry and numerical modeling , Electrolysis technologies and materials for energy storage and conversion
- Assistant Professor
- Professor at the INRS-UQTR Joint Research Unit in Energy Transition Materials and Technologies
Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre
1650, boul. Lionel-Boulet
Varennes (Québec) J3X 1P7
CANADA
Main office
Institut de recherche sur l’hydrogène (UQTR)
Pavillon Tapan-K.-Bose
3351, Boul. des Forges C.P.500
Trois-Rivières (Québec) G9A 5H7
CANADA
Research interests
Professor François Allard’s research areas focus both on electrolysis technologies for the production of hydrogen and metals (Al, Li, Mg, Fe, etc.), and on materials synthesis, characterization and validation in electrochemical cells, fuel cells and lithium batteries. Professor Allard has solid expertise in high-temperature electrochemistry, electrometallurgy and numerical modeling (heat and mass transfer and electrochemical modeling) demonstrated by his research work and by his career in industrial R&D.
Professor Allard’s research activities on materials and technologies for the energy transition include practical aspects applicable to industry. The research laboratory aims to advance knowledge and find innovative solutions in these three axes of research:
- Production by electrolysis, conversion and application of “green” hydrogen;
- New electrometallurgical processes with low CO2 emissions;
- Electrode materials for batteries.
Future students
I invite students interested in these axes of research and aiming to pursue graduate studies to contact me.
Training openings for students or interns
Team
David Nadeau
Ph.D. in Energy and Materials Science
Seifeddine Bdey
Ph.D. in Energy and Materials Science
Yannick Poulin-Giroux
Ph.D. in Energy and Materials Science
Functions and academic experience
- Professor at the Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Centre of INRS, since 2022
- Université de Sherbrooke, doctorate in partnership with Rio Tinto Aluminium, 2018
- Université de Sherbrooke, master’s degree in partnership with Rio Tinto Aluminium, 2014
Professional experience
- Hydro-Québec, Center of Excellence in Transportation Electrification and Energy Storage, 2019-2022
Scientific activities
- Membre – Réseau québécois sur l’énergie intelligente (RQEI)
- Responsable de l’axe Électrification des transports – Comité scientifique de l’axe Électrification des transports de la zone d’innovation de la Vallée de la transition énergétique (ZI VTÉ)
- Membre académique – International Committee for Study of Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium (ICSOBA)
- Associate Professor – Hydrogen Research Institute of UQTR
- Member – Quebec Centre for Advanced Materials (QCAM)
- Member – Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ)
Awards / Honors
- Mention of excellence and scholarship from the department for the thesis (2018)
- Leonardo da Vinci Medal of Merit (2016)
- Rio Tinto Aluminum Excellence Scholarship for PhD (2015)
- Acfas Prize – Natural Resources Canada, provincial award (2014)
- Rio Tinto Aluminum Excellence Scholarship for master’s degree (2013)
- Recipient of the Hydro-Québec institutional grant (2012)
Publications
Nadeau, D., Roué, L., & Allard, F. (2024). Numerical modeling of a low-cobalt all-solid-state cell with ceramic electrolyte using a deformable geometry. Batteries 2024, 10(7), 250, 10070250.
Pansiot, B., Allard, F., Désilets, M., Lalancette, F., & Blais, A. (2024). Error correction for temperature measurement in insulating material: Application to the aluminum electrolysis cell. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 195, 108682.
Bdey, S., Boussadoune, N., Allard, F., Huot, J., Antonius, G., Bourguiba, N. F., & Nuñez, P. (2023). Synthesis, structural study, and Na+ migration pathways simulation of the new phase Na3Al3 (AsO4) 4. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 124459.
LeBreux, M., Désilets, M., Allard, F., Micheau, P. and Blais, A., 2020. An on-line estimation tool for predicting the time-varying ledge profile inside aluminum electrolysis cells. Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications, 77(2), pp.134-161.
Allard, F., Désilets, M. and Blais, A., 2019. A modeling approach for time-dependent geometry applied to transient heat transfer of aluminum electrolysis cells. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, 50(2), pp.958-980.
Allard, F., Désilets, M., LeBreux, M. and Blais, A., 2019. Improved heat transfer modeling of the top of aluminum electrolysis cells. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 132, pp.1262-1276.
Allard, F., Désilets, M. and Blais, A., 2019. Thermal, chemical and microstructural characterization of anode crust formed in aluminum electrolysis cells. Thermochimica Acta, 671, pp.89-102.
Allard, F 2018, Modélisation numérique, caractérisation et validation expérimentale du transfert thermique au-dessus de cellules d’électrolyse d’aluminium, PhD thesis, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke.
LeBreux, M., Désilets, M., Allard, F. and Blais, A., 2016. Modeling and measurements of anode cover behavior inside aluminum electrolysis cells. Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications, 69(2), pp.128-145.
Allard, F., Désilets, M., LeBreux, M. and Blais, A., 2016. The impact of the cavity on the top heat losses in aluminum electrolysis cells. In Light Metals 2016 (pp. 289-294).
Allard, F., Soucy, G., Rivoaland, L. and Désilets, M., 2015. Thermodynamic and thermochemical investigation of the deposits formed on the cathode surface of aluminum electrolysis cells. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 119(2), pp.1303-1314.
Allard, F., Désilets, M., LeBreux, M. and Blais, A., 2015. Chemical characterization and thermodynamic investigation of anode crust used in aluminum electrolysis cells. In Light Metals 2015 (pp. 565-570).
Allard, F 2014, Étude des mécanismes de formation et du comportement des dépôts au pourtour de cellules d’électrolyse d’aluminium, Master thesis, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke.
Allard, F., Soucy, G. and Rivoaland, L., 2014. Formation of deposits on the cathode surface of aluminum electrolysis cells. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, 45(6), pp.2475-2485.
Allard, F., Coulombe, M.A., Soucy, G. and Rivoaland, L., 2014. Cartography and chemical composition of the different deposits in the hall-heroult process. In Light Metals 2014 (pp. 1233-1238).