Education
University of Pennsylvania. Illinois Institute of Technology.
University of Pennsylvania. Illinois Institute of Technology.
He was a pioneer in the field of electrochemistry and his career spanned 45 years. Power plants based on his concepts are providing electricity in distributed generation locations throughout the world. Baker was known worldwide as an expert in electrochemical systems
He directed research in and development of various electrochemical power generation devices, including different types of fuel cells, batteries and hybrid systems
Baker"s expertise encompassed fundamental research as well as the technological, engineering, system and marketing aspects of these systems, including "direct fuel cells", which can process hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas without an external reformer. Baker received his bachelor"s and master"s degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and was a post-graduate Fulbright fellow at the Laboratory for Electrochemistry of the University of Amsterdam, before earning a doctorate from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1969.
His doctoral thesis was also on fuel cell heat transfer and internal reforming. Before joining Energy Research Corporation, Baker was director of basic sciences at the Institute of Gas Technology in Chicago, where he directed research in the area of energy conversion and fuel cells.
Before that, he was senior scientist at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Missiles & Space Division, where he was responsible for research on carbonate fuel cell systems and electrochemical kinetic studies.
Baker is a major contributor to the field of fuel cell research, development and commercialization. He was issued 20 United States. patents relating to fuel cells and other electrochemical systems He authored more than 100 publications, including technical papers, books and symposia proceedings on the subject of fuel cells.
At the time of the award, the chairman of the Grove Symposium Steering Committee said: "Doctor Baker devoted his entire professional career to develop and promote fuel cells.
In the beginning as a scientist, finally as a top manager he dealt with various fuel cells including alkaline, phosphoric acid and molten carbonate technologies. Doctor Baker personifies a remarkable combination of scientific capabilities and management skills.
This unique blend enabled him not only to have many patents on fuel cell related inventions and to issue more than 100 fuel cell publications but to build up one of the world wide leading companies in the carbonate fuel cell technology." He was a Ralph East. Peck lecturer at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1994.