Prof. Dr. Michael J. Aziz
Harvard University
Prof. Dr. Michael J. Aziz
Image: Prof. Dr. Michael J. Aziz
About the Speaker
Michael J. Aziz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Physics from the California Institute of Technology and a Master of Science degree from Harvard University. For his Ph.D. in Applied Physics at Harvard he studied studying crystal growth kinetics under the guidance of David Turnbull. He spent two years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a Eugene P. Wigner Postdoctoral Fellow, where he studied materials processing with ion and laser beams. Aziz has been on the faculty at what is now the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences since 1986, and is now the Gene and Tracy Sykes Professor of Materials and Energy Technologies and the Area Chair for Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering.
Professor Aziz has made major contributions to the fields of applied physics and materials science. He was awarded the Bruce Chalmers Award by TMS "For basic theoretical and experimental contributions to the understanding of solute trapping, laser processing, and ion beam modifications of surfaces". He was elected a Fellow of the AAAS "For seminal studies of the non-equilibrium atomic-scale mechanisms underlying modern materials processing techniques", a Fellow of the APS "For unique experimental and theoretical contributions to our understanding of the kinetics of crystal growth in covalent systems, and of solute trapping in rapid solidification processing", and a Fellow of the MRS "For innovative contributions to our understanding of the kinetics of nonequilibrium phenomena in materials and for dedication to MRS and the materials community". He is the co-recipient of the 2019 Energy Frontiers Prize from Eni for pioneering research on aqueous organic flow batteries for grid-scale electrical energy storage.
As the energy-climate problem has become more urgent, the research interests of Professor Aziz have shifted to sustainability problems such as energy storage and CO2 capture. He has directed a multi-investigator research program on stationary electrical energy storage since 2012 and is co-inventor of the aqueous organic redox flow battery, with multiple patents that have been licensed for commercialization. He is a co-founder, equity holder, Chief Scientist, and member of the Board of Quino Energy, Inc., a 2021 Harvard spin-out company. He was the faculty coordinator for the Harvard University Graduate Consortium on Energy and Environment from 2009 to 2018. He developed an energy technology course for a broad audience and is currently authoring a textbook on energy technology.
Abtract
Molecular lifetime, capacity fade and capacity recovery with organic active species
Michael J. Aziz,
Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences,
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
We have developed high performance flow batteries based on the aqueous redox behavior of small organic and metalorganic monomers composed of earth-abundant elements. These redox active materials can be inexpensive and exhibit rapid redox kinetics and high solubilities, potentially enabling rapid scaling of flow batteries at reduced cost. Adequate molecular lifetime has been one of the most challenging requirements to satisfy. We have shown that the amount of lost capacity is determined primarily by the molecular calendar life, which can depend on state of charge and temperature, but is independent of the number of charge-discharge cycles imposed. I will show how galvanostatic cycling introduces artifacts into capacity measurements that vitiate low fade rates based solely on galvanostatic cycling and will show how potential holds during cycling eliminate those artifacts, permitting the measurement of extremely low capacity fade rates. I will discuss how an understanding of molecular decomposition mechanisms has permitted us to design molecules with decadal projected lifetimes and even to reverse capacity fade by recomposing decomposed molecules within the functioning battery electrolyte.