Personal profile
Biography
David received his B.Sc. in Applied Physics from the University of Limerick, in 2009 and his PhD from the Department of Physics in the University of Limerick in 2014. His PhD thesis focused on the synthesis, structural and electrochemical performance of V 2 O 5 nanostructures as cathode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries. Following this, David worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Chemistry in University College Cork (UCC) from 2014 – 2018. During this time, he researched the synthesis, and electrochemical characterisation of metal oxide and semiconductor nanostructures as anode and cathode materials for Li-ion batteries. While researching in UCC, David was awarded a prestigious Royal Irish Academy Charlemont Grant to investigate inverse opal structured battery electrode materials. David also gained lecturing experience while working in the School of Chemistry where he taught introductory chemistry to undergraduate students. From 2018 – 2020 David worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Electrochemistry Laboratory of the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland where his research focused on lithium–sulfur batteries. David returned to UL in 2020 to work as a postdoctoral researcher as part of a Confirm Centre funded project to develop bespoke batteries for autonomous mobile robots. In 2020, David was awarded an SFI Future Innovator Prize to lead a Team under the Plastics Challenge stream. Since 2021 David has been lecturing in the Department of Physics in UL, where he has been teaching solid state and condensed matter physics to 4 th year B.Sc. and M.Sc. students. In 2021 David won a prestigious Marie Curie COFUND Fellowship as part of the ADMIRE programme through the AMBER Centre to investigate the conversion of plastic waste into porous carbons for use in lithium–sulfur batteries. Following this, in 2022 David was awarded an SFI-IRC Pathway Programme Grant to expand his research on advanced lithium–sulfur batteries. The Pathway award enabled David to begin his independent research career and establish his own research group.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Hydrothermally Synthesized Calcium Tetragermanate Nanowires for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Hennessy, A., Adegoke, T. E., Geaney, H., Ryan, K. M. & McNulty, D., 23 Feb 2026, In: ACS Applied Energy Materials. 9, 4, p. 2057-2066 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Elucidating reaction dynamics in lithium–sulfur batteries via operando X-ray diffraction of hollow carbon sphere hosts
Bowman, D., Lizundia, E. & McNulty, D., Dec 2025, In: Communications Materials. 6, 1, 163.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Revealing the Importance of Phase and Morphology Dynamics in the Excellent Long-Term Cycling Stability of Flower-Like BiOCl Sodium-Ion Anodes
O’Sullivan, S., Leite, M. M., Bowman, D., Adegoke, E., McNulty, D., Ryan, K. M., Geaney, H. & Kennedy, T., Dec 2025, In: Small Structures. 6, 12, e202500393.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Shellfish biowaste-derived carbon architectures as renewably sourced cathode materials for Lithium–Sulfur batteries
Bowman, D., Brandão, A. T. S. C., State, S., Costa, R., Enachescu, M., Enache, L. B., Pereira, C. M. & McNulty, D., 1 Sep 2025, In: Journal of Power Sources. 649, 237406.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Silicon Particles for Improved Energy Density Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Capkova, D., Geaney, H., Mcnulty, D. & Ryan, K. M., 2025, Proceedings - 2025 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Green Technologies, Renewable Energy and Ecological Sustainability, MetroGREENST 2025. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., p. 69-73 5 p. (Proceedings - 2025 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Green Technologies, Renewable Energy and Ecological Sustainability, MetroGREENST 2025).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review