Bilal El-Zahab

Bilal El-Zahab is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Florida International University (FIU), part of the College of Engineering and Computing. His research focuses on advanced battery technologies, particularly lithium-ion, lithium-sulfur, and solid-state batteries. He leads efforts in developing novel electrolytes, catalysts, and analytical tools to address capacity fade mechanisms. His work integrates materials science, electrochemistry, and nanotechnology to improve energy storage systems.

El-Zahab’s research emphasizes electrolyte design (e.g., gel-polymer electrolytes, solid-state electrolytes), polysulfide shuttle dynamics in lithium-sulfur batteries, and catalytic electrode architectures. He has pioneered methodologies for in-situ analysis of battery degradation, including Fourier transform-based diagnostics of charge/discharge cycles. His laboratory (battery.fiu.edu) hosts cutting-edge projects on battery stability, filler additives, and interlayer engineering.

Key contributions include ceramic filler integration for sulfur cathodes, glass microfiber interlayers, and synergistic electrocatalyst-cathode systems. His recent work (2023–2025) advances lithium-air and all-solid-state batteries, with a focus on high areal sulfur loading and polysulfide retention strategies. Despite his prolific output, no scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided materials.

El-Zahab advises on graduate programs in mechanical and materials engineering but no specific advisee names are documented here. His lab’s innovations in solid-state electrolytes and electrolyte additives have implications for safer, higher-capacity energy storage solutions.