Dr. Zachary Hood, Group Leader and Materials Scientist in the Applied Materials Division, Argonne National Lab will give a seminar titled "Transformative Applications of MXenes: Advancing Catalysis, Conductivity, and Energy Storage Solutions" to the interested faculty and students at Discovery Park.

Abstract

The rapidly growing utility of MXenes, a versatile class of two-dimensional materials derived from transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides, is increasingly recognized for its broad applicability across various fields, including energy storage, composites, catalysis, and beyond. MXenes possess a unique atomic structure, which underpins their exceptional properties—high electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and remarkable surface reactivity—making them ideally suited for a range of energy-related applications. Despite their vast potential, however, the complex nature of MXenes poses significant challenges, particularly in terms of precise synthesis and scalable processing, often resulting in variability in both performance and reliability. This seminar will delve into how MXenes are being harnessed to play a transformative role in three key areas: 1) electrocatalysis, which is essential for advancing energy conversion technologies, such as fuel cells and electrochemical reactors; 2) the development of enhanced conductivity metals that significantly improve the performance of electronic devices; and 3) energy storage solutions that offer increased efficiency and longer lifetimes for batteries. Detailed case studies conducted at Argonne National Laboratory will be highlighted, demonstrating the collaborative efforts to optimize MXene performance in various applications and to develop advanced manufacturing methodologies that transcend traditional approaches, paving the way for innovative solutions in materials science and engineering.

Bio

Dr. Zachary D. Hood, a Group Leader and Materials Scientist, leads the Advanced Electrochemical Materials Group within the Energy Storage and Conversion Department of Argonne National Laboratory’s Applied Materials Division. Under his guidance, the group pioneers inventive synthetic approaches to create cutting-edge solid-state materials, employing various characterization techniques to unravel their properties and performance across the nano-to-macro scale. Zachary Hood received his B.S. from Wake Forest University, his Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and his postdoctoral at the Massechusetts Institute of Technology. Zachary Hood has received several awards, including the Argonne Board of Governors Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Award in 2023, Impact Argonne Award, the Maria Goeppert Mayer Director’s Fellowship at Argonne National Laboratory, and the Materials Research Society Graduate Student Award (Gold).