Arumugam Manthiram

Arumugam Manthiram holds the George T. and Gladys H. Abell Endowed Chair of Engineering as a Professor in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin. His pioneering research focuses on developing affordable, high-performance materials for electrochemical energy storage systems with fundamental structure-property insights.

Educational background:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India (1980)
• M.S. in Chemistry, Madurai University, India (1976)
• B.S. in Chemistry, Madurai University, India (1974)

Manthiram's research spans lithium-ion, sodium-ion, lithium-sulfur, sodium-sulfur, and all-solid-state batteries, emphasizing elimination of scarce cobalt/nickel, sulfur cathode development, safe anode design, and degradation mechanism analysis. His 1980s discovery of iron-based polyanion cathodes (e.g., LiFePO₄) established the inductive effect principle now industry-standard for safety and cost efficiency.

Recent publications reveal trends toward sodium-sulfur stability through asymmetric electrolytes, thermal management of high-nickel cathodes, and fast-charging interphase engineering. His work bridges fundamental chemistry with commercial applications, targeting electric vehicles and grid storage viability.

Major accolades include:

• Olin Palladium Award (2025)
• Faraday Lecture Award (2025)
• Yeager Award for Lifetime Achievement (2024)
• National Academy of Inventors Fellowship (2023)
• John B. Goodenough Award (2023)
• Battery Division Technology Award (2021)

He has mentored over 300 researchers including 77 PhD and 30 MS graduates, with 60 former students now faculty members and industry leaders. His group secures substantial grants from DOE, NSF, and industry partners for battery innovation. The research team operates advanced laboratories focused on materials synthesis, characterization, and prototype testing, with active collaborations including TexPower EV Technologies for cobalt-free cathode commercialization.