Associate Professor Ruth Knibbe
Associate Professor

Ruth Knibbe

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54500

Background

My research focuses on materials for electrochemical energy systems, with a particular emphasis on electrochemistry, electron microscopy, and dabblings in the application of machine learning in materials discovery.

I joined the School of Mechanical & Mining Engineering at The University of Queensland (UQ) as a Lecturer in 2016 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2020 and Associate Professor in 2023.

I earned my PhD in Chemical Engineering from UQ in 2007. Following this, I spent four years at DTU Energy (Technical University of Denmark) and five years at the Robinson Research Institute at Victoria University of Wellington.

My fundamental research interests include:

  • Operando electron microscopy characterisation for electrochemical systems - electrolysers and batteries
  • Development of novel battery materials, for sodium-based batteries including solid state batteries and anode free battery systems
  • Understanding degradation mechanisms in electrochemical systems - a current focus on carbon dioxide electrolysis systems.
  • Machine learning-driven material design.

My industry facing research interests include

  • Development of printed batteries for health monitoring and logistics applications.
  • Large-scale implementation of electrochemical energy systems for industry.
  • Understanding fire safety for large-scale battery systems.

Availability

Associate Professor Ruth Knibbe is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Operando Electron Microscopy Characterisation for Electrochemical Systems

    Characterising materials under near-operating conditions provides invaluable insights into their real-world behaviour. In electron microscopy, achieving operando characterisation is particularly challenging due to the high-vacuum environment of the microscope. For battery systems with liquid electrolytes, this requires encapsulating the cell while maintaining electron transparency—a demanding experimental task. However, the ability to observe nanoscale phenomena in real time offers a unique advantage, enabling the development of more efficient and durable battery technologies.

  • Development of Novel Battery Materials

    Sodium-based batteries, which includes solid state batteries and anode-free systems, represent the future of sustainable and high-performance energy storage. A key focus of our research is the development of novel materials to optimise electrode interfaces and enhance cathode performance. By engineering interfaces, we aim to improve slow interfacial kinetics to reduce degradation. These advancements are essential for overcoming current limitations in next-generation battery technologies and enabling their large-scale commercial adoption.

  • Machine learning and robotics in new material design

    Leveraging machine learning for materials discovery is critical in the design of next-generation functional materials. Despite extensive research into new materials for various applications, many commercial systems continue to rely on well-established compositions. With a wealth of experimental data available, machine learning holds significant potential for unlocking the design of superior alternatives. In addition, the development of robotic systems to assist in high-throughput synthesis is accelerating the discovery and optimisation of novel materials. This approach fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together expertise from fields such as machine learning and robotics to drive innovation in materials science.

  • Understanding Fire Safety for Large-Scale Battery Systems

    As energy storage systems scale up, safety becomes an increasingly critical concern. Research in this area is essential for developing safer battery technologies, mitigating thermal runaway risks, and ensuring regulatory compliance for grid-scale and industrial applications. This work is conducted in collaboration with fire safety experts to assess the unique fire risks associated with large-scale battery systems. By combining expertise, the goal is to develop strategies and technologies that enhance the safety of large-scale energy storage systems.

Search Professor Ruth Knibbe’s works on UQ eSpace

111 works between 2005 and 2025
All (111) Journal Article (98) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (9) Other Outputs (1)

21 - 40 of 111 works

2024

Book Chapter

TEM characterisation of electrode–electrolyte interfaces in solid-state fuel cells and batteries

Ran, Lingbing, Cooper, Emily R., Tao, Shiwei and Knibbe, Ruth (2024). TEM characterisation of electrode–electrolyte interfaces in solid-state fuel cells and batteries. Design of active key interfaces in fuel cells. (pp. 303-344) edited by Toshiyuki Mori, San Ping Jiang, Zongping Shao, Michihisa Koyama, Zhipeng Li, Takayoshi Tanji, Roger Wepf and Fei Ye. Singapore, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-97-5706-0_8

TEM characterisation of electrode–electrolyte interfaces in solid-state fuel cells and batteries

2024

Journal Article

Low-coordinated surface nickel oxide as electrocatalyst for efficient water oxidation

Zhang, Jiayun, Su, Bing-Jian, Wu, Kuang-Hsu, Xia, Qingbing, Knibbe, Ruth and Gentle, Ian (2024). Low-coordinated surface nickel oxide as electrocatalyst for efficient water oxidation. Journal of Catalysis, 429 115278, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jcat.2023.115278

Low-coordinated surface nickel oxide as electrocatalyst for efficient water oxidation

2023

Journal Article

A deeper understanding of metal nucleation and growth in rechargeable metal batteries through theory and experiment

Cooper, Emily R., Li, Ming, Gentle, Ian, Xia, Qingbing and Knibbe, Ruth (2023). A deeper understanding of metal nucleation and growth in rechargeable metal batteries through theory and experiment. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 62 (51) e202309247, 1-24. doi: 10.1002/anie.202309247

A deeper understanding of metal nucleation and growth in rechargeable metal batteries through theory and experiment

2023

Journal Article

Facilitating sodium nucleation in anode-free sodium batteries

Cooper, Emily R., Li, Ming, Xia, Qingbing, Gentle, Ian and Knibbe, Ruth (2023). Facilitating sodium nucleation in anode-free sodium batteries. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 6 (22), 11550-11559. doi: 10.1021/acsaem.3c01938

Facilitating sodium nucleation in anode-free sodium batteries

2023

Journal Article

Study of Na deposition formation in mixed ethylene: Propylene carbonate electrolytes by inert/cryoelectron microscopy

Li, Ming, Floetenmeyer, Matthias, Bryant, Ethan, Cooper, Emily, Tao, Shiwei and Knibbe, Ruth (2023). Study of Na deposition formation in mixed ethylene: Propylene carbonate electrolytes by inert/cryoelectron microscopy. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 15 (46), 53333-53341. doi: 10.1021/acsami.3c09442

Study of Na deposition formation in mixed ethylene: Propylene carbonate electrolytes by inert/cryoelectron microscopy

2023

Journal Article

Optimal battery and hydrogen fuel cell sizing in heavy-haul locomotives

Knibbe, Ruth, Harding, Damien, Burton, Jonathan, Cooper, Emily, Amir Zadeh, Zhila, Sagulenko, Michael, Meehan, Paul A. and Buckley, Roger (2023). Optimal battery and hydrogen fuel cell sizing in heavy-haul locomotives. Journal of Energy Storage, 71 108090. doi: 10.1016/j.est.2023.108090

Optimal battery and hydrogen fuel cell sizing in heavy-haul locomotives

2023

Journal Article

Recent applications of machine learning in alloy design: a review

Hu, Mingwei, Tan, Qiyang, Knibbe, Ruth, Xu, Miao, Jiang, Bin, Wang, Sen, Li, Xue and Zhang, Ming-Xing (2023). Recent applications of machine learning in alloy design: a review. Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports, 155 100746, 100746. doi: 10.1016/j.mser.2023.100746

Recent applications of machine learning in alloy design: a review

2023

Journal Article

A Deeper Understanding of Metal Nucleation and Growth in Rechargeable Metal Batteries Through Theory and Experiment

Cooper, Emily R., Li, Ming, Gentle, Ian, Xia, Qingbing and Knibbe, Ruth (2023). A Deeper Understanding of Metal Nucleation and Growth in Rechargeable Metal Batteries Through Theory and Experiment. Angewandte Chemie, 135 (51), 1-23. doi: 10.1002/ange.202309247

A Deeper Understanding of Metal Nucleation and Growth in Rechargeable Metal Batteries Through Theory and Experiment

2023

Journal Article

Solvent‐derived fluorinated secondary interphase for reversible Zn‐graphite dual‐ion batteries

Tao, Shiwei, Demir, Baris, Baktash, Ardeshir, Zhu, Yutong, Xia, Qingbing, Jiao, Yalong, Zhao, Yuying, Lin, Tongen, Li, Ming, Lyu, Miaoqiang, Gentle, Ian, Wang, Lianzhou and Knibbe, Ruth (2023). Solvent‐derived fluorinated secondary interphase for reversible Zn‐graphite dual‐ion batteries. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 62 (39) e202307208, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/anie.202307208

Solvent‐derived fluorinated secondary interphase for reversible Zn‐graphite dual‐ion batteries

2023

Journal Article

Solvent‐derived fluorinated secondary interphase for reversible Zn‐graphite dual‐ion batteries

Tao, Shiwei, Demir, Baris, Baktash, Ardeshir, Zhu, Yutong, Xia, Qingbing, Jiao, Yalong, Zhao, Yuying, Lin, Tongen, Li, Ming, Lyu, Miaoqiang, Gentle, Ian, Wang, Lianzhou and Knibbe, Ruth (2023). Solvent‐derived fluorinated secondary interphase for reversible Zn‐graphite dual‐ion batteries. Angewandte Chemie, 135 (39) e202307208. doi: 10.1002/ange.202307208

Solvent‐derived fluorinated secondary interphase for reversible Zn‐graphite dual‐ion batteries

2023

Book Chapter

Fuel electrode materials for solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs)

Khan, Muhammad Shirjeel and Knibbe, Ruth (2023). Fuel electrode materials for solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). High temperature electrolysis. (pp. 91-115) edited by Miguel Angel Laguna-Bercero. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-22508-6_5

Fuel electrode materials for solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs)

2023

Journal Article

Improving the electrochemical performance of α-MoO3 electrode using aluminium trifluoromethanesulfonate water-in-salt electrolyte

Elkholy, Ayman E., Duignan, Timothy T., Knibbe, Ruth and Song Zhao, Xiu (2023). Improving the electrochemical performance of α-MoO3 electrode using aluminium trifluoromethanesulfonate water-in-salt electrolyte. Journal of Energy Chemistry, 78, 123-134. doi: 10.1016/j.jechem.2022.11.015

Improving the electrochemical performance of α-MoO3 electrode using aluminium trifluoromethanesulfonate water-in-salt electrolyte

2023

Journal Article

Near-isotropic enhancement of the 20 K critical current of REBa2Cu3O7 coated conductors from columnar defects

Strickland, Nicholas M, Wimbush, Stuart C, Soman, Arya Ambadiyil, Long, Nicholas J, Rupich, Martin W, Knibbe, Ruth, Li, Ming, Notthoff, Christian and Kluth, Patrick (2023). Near-isotropic enhancement of the 20 K critical current of REBa2Cu3O7 coated conductors from columnar defects. Superconductor Science and Technology, 36 (5) 055001. doi: 10.1088/1361-6668/acbac6

Near-isotropic enhancement of the 20 K critical current of REBa2Cu3O7 coated conductors from columnar defects

2023

Book Chapter

Advanced electron microscopy characterization of sodium-ion battery materials

Knibbe, Ruth, Li, Ming and Ran, Lingbing (2023). Advanced electron microscopy characterization of sodium-ion battery materials. Handbook of sodium-ion batteries: materials and characterization. (pp. 589-624) edited by Rohit R. Gaddam and X. S. (George) Zhao. Singapore: Jenny Stanford Publishing. doi: 10.1201/9781003308744-12

Advanced electron microscopy characterization of sodium-ion battery materials

2022

Journal Article

Application and limitations of batteries and hydrogen in heavy haul rail using Australian case studies

Knibbe, Ruth, Harding, Damien, Cooper, Emily, Burton, Jonathan, Liu, Sheng, Amirzadeh, Zhila, Buckley, Roger and Meehan, Paul A. (2022). Application and limitations of batteries and hydrogen in heavy haul rail using Australian case studies. Journal of Energy Storage, 56 105813, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.est.2022.105813

Application and limitations of batteries and hydrogen in heavy haul rail using Australian case studies

2022

Journal Article

Predicting the crystal structure and lattice parameters of the perovskite materials via different machine learning models based on basic atom properties

Jarin, Sams, Yuan, Yufan, Zhang, Mingxing, Hu, Mingwei, Rana, Masud, Wang, Sen and Knibbe, Ruth (2022). Predicting the crystal structure and lattice parameters of the perovskite materials via different machine learning models based on basic atom properties. Crystals, 12 (11) 1570, 1-21. doi: 10.3390/cryst12111570

Predicting the crystal structure and lattice parameters of the perovskite materials via different machine learning models based on basic atom properties

2022

Journal Article

A Hydrophobic and Fluorophilic Coating Layer for Stable and Reversible Aqueous Zinc Metal Anodes

Tao, Shiwei, Zhang, Cheng, Zhang, Jincan, Jiao, Yalong, Li, Ming, Lin, Weikang, Ran, Lingbing, Clement, Benoit, Lyu, Miaoqiang, Gentle, Ian, Wang, Lianzhou and Knibbe, Ruth (2022). A Hydrophobic and Fluorophilic Coating Layer for Stable and Reversible Aqueous Zinc Metal Anodes. Chemical Engineering Journal, 446 136607, 136607. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.136607

A Hydrophobic and Fluorophilic Coating Layer for Stable and Reversible Aqueous Zinc Metal Anodes

2022

Journal Article

Electrosynthesis of polypyrrole-reinforced helical α-MoO3 microribbons for high-energy aqueous Al3+-ion pseudocapacitors

Elkholy, Ayman E., Duignan, Timothy T., Knibbe, Ruth and Zhao, Xiu Song (2022). Electrosynthesis of polypyrrole-reinforced helical α-MoO3 microribbons for high-energy aqueous Al3+-ion pseudocapacitors. Electrochimica Acta, 429 141050, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.141050

Electrosynthesis of polypyrrole-reinforced helical α-MoO3 microribbons for high-energy aqueous Al3+-ion pseudocapacitors

2022

Journal Article

Effect of cold deformation on the hydrogen permeation in a dual-phase advanced high-strength steel

Li, Huixing, Venezuela, Jeffrey, Zhou, Qingjun, Shi, Zhiming, Dong, Futao, Yan, Ming, Knibbe, Ruth, Zhang, Mingxing and Atrens, Andrej (2022). Effect of cold deformation on the hydrogen permeation in a dual-phase advanced high-strength steel. Electrochimica Acta, 424 140619, 140619. doi: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.140619

Effect of cold deformation on the hydrogen permeation in a dual-phase advanced high-strength steel

2022

Journal Article

Influence of hydrogen on the S–N fatigue of DP1180 advanced high-strength steel

Li, Huixing, Dong, Futao, Zhou, Qingjun, Shi, Zhiming, Venezuela, Jeffrey, Yan, Ming, Knibbe, Ruth, Zhang, Mingxing and Atrens, Andrej (2022). Influence of hydrogen on the S–N fatigue of DP1180 advanced high-strength steel. Corrosion Science, 205 110465, 110465. doi: 10.1016/j.corsci.2022.110465

Influence of hydrogen on the S–N fatigue of DP1180 advanced high-strength steel

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2026
    Printable zinc ion batteries for flexible devices
    Australia's Economic Accelerator Ignite Grants
    Open grant
  • 2025
    High speed multi modal in-situ TEM platform (ARC LIEF grant administered by QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2030
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide
    ARC Centres of Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Integrated high-throughput material synthesis and characterisation system
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Interfacial engineering of multilayered metal organic framework membranes (ARC DP grant administered by UTS)
    University of Technology Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Understanding dynamic interfaces in electrochemical systems
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2025
    Micro-Computed Tomography for Studying the Microstructural Evolution of Sodium Metal Anodes in High-Capacity Sodium Metal Batteries
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2024
    In-Situ X-Ray Powder Diffraction Study the Sodium Ion Storage Mechanism in Sodium Titanate Nanobelts
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2024
    In-Situ X-Ray Powder Diffraction Study the Sodium Ion Storage Mechanism in Prussian Blue Analogue Cathode Materials
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2024
    Understanding the Anion Intercalation/De-intercalation in Graphite Cathodes for Dual-Ion Batteries using In Situ Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2023
    In-Situ X-Ray Powder Diffraction Study the Sodium Ion Storage Mechanism in Graphite Analogues
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Study of Potassium-Ion Storage Mechanism in Titanium Oxide Anode Using In-situ X-ray Powder Diffraction
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Understanding Na deposition behaviours on brass current collectors in batteries using in-situ X-ray power diffraction
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Battery and Fuel Cell Technology for Locomotive Decarbonisation
    Aurizon Operations Limited
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Sodium ion interactions with biomass-derived hard carbon electrodes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    A correlative cryo-microscopy suite (ARC LIEF project administered by USYD)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    An Integrated Materials Surface Analytical Facility
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    An ion-beam engineered microstructure for high-performance superconducting films (Royal Society of New Zealand grant administered by Victoria University of Wellington)
    Victoria University of Wellington
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Imaging in the nano-scale age: terahertz and millimetre wave microanalysis
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Hydrogen embrittlement and hydrogen-influenced low-cycle fatigue of advanced h-strength steels and parts for auto service
    Baosteel-Australia Joint Research and Development
    Open grant
  • 2017
    In-situ transmission electron microscopy of Li-S batteries
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Ruth Knibbe is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Ruth Knibbe directly for media enquiries about:

  • Batteries
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electron microscopy
  • Fuel cells
  • Materials engineering

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