I work on materials for next-generation metal-ion batteries and related energy-storage systems.
I lead a materials research group focused on electrochemical energy storage, especially sodium-ion battery systems. This work includes the development of anodes, cathodes, and separators from new materials, as well as research on strategies for commercial battery recycling.
Current lithium-ion batteries are fantastic inventions that have transformed our lives. However, there is room for improvement: lithium is relatively scarce; lithium-ion cells cannot be fully discharged and pose a transport fire risk; and performance often drops sharply at low temperatures. Other battery chemistries—such as sodium-ion—can address some of these issues, while introducing new ones. This is the space we work in: to understand those trade-offs and engineer materials and processes that make next-generation batteries safer, more scalable, and reliable in real-world conditions.
I teach courses on atomic and molecular structure (5KE165, 5KE162), thermodynamics (5KE165), molecular orbital theory and group theory (5KE195), and computational chemistry with electronic structure methods (5KE176).