Energy Materials

Energy Materials

 

Whether the focus is sustainable energy generation, conversion, or storage, including electrical energy generation via solar and other renewable sources, or how to transfer and store energy between its generation and use, materials science and engineering play a key role. Our research includes the selection, design, and manufacturing of advanced materials for these energy applications, such as organic and inorganic photovoltaics, and energy conversion and storage in batteries, fuel cells, and capacitors. We also evaluate and develop processes and materials for the safe disposal of energy materials (e.g., nuclear fuels, lithium, rare earth) and their circular economy.

Faculty

Photo of Megan Butala Megan ButalaAssistant Professor
Work 172 Rhines Hall (352) 294-7876

Ph.D., 2017, University of California, Santa Barbara

Research Interests: Energy Storage Materials, Lithium-ion Batteries, Structure-Property Relationships, X-ray Diffraction, Pair Distribution Function Analysis

Lab Website: Butala Research Group

Photo of Richard Hennig Richard HennigProfessor, Alumni Professor of Materials Science & Engineering
Work 154 Rhines Hall (352) 392-7327

Ph.D., 2000, Washington University in St. Louis

Research interests: Computational materials science, ab-initio methods, structure prediction algorithms, two-dimensional materials, materials for energy technologies, solid-liquid interfaces

Lab Website: Hennig Materials Theory Lab

Photo of Kevin S. Jones Kevin JonesDistinguished Professor, Frederick N. Rhines Professor of Materials Science & Engineering
Work 160 Rhines Hall (352) 846-3301

Ph. D., 1987, University of California, Berkeley

Research Interests: Semiconductor Processing and electron microscopy characterization; Ion implantation of Si, Ge and compound semiconductors; Li ion battery anode and cathode development

Lab Website: Swamp Group

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Photo of Juan Claudio Nino Juan Claudio NinoProfessor
Work 166 Rhines Hall (352) 846-3787

Ph. D., 2002, The Pennsylvania State University

Research Interests: Multifunctional ceramics; energy materials; dielectrics and ionic conductors in bulk and thin film; single crystal growth; nuclear materials and detectors; bioceramics

Lab Website: Nino Research Group (NRG)

Photo of Nathalie Wall Nathalie WallProfesssor
Work 323 MAE Building (352) 273-0279

Ph.D., 1993, University of Paris, XI

Research Interests: Radiochemistry, Nuclear Wastes, Nuclear Forensics, Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Environmental Behavior of Radionuclides

Lab Website: Wall Research

Photo of Jiangeng Xue Jiangeng XueProfessor
Work 237A Rhines Hall (352) 846-3775

Ph. D., 2005, Princeton University

Research Interests: Nanostructured electronic materials, organic-inorganic hybrid materials, surfaces and interfaces, energy materials, photovoltaic cells, light-emitting diodes and other optoelectronic devices

Lab Website: Xue Research Group