Michael Toney

Michael Toney is a Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical and Biological Engineering. He teaches MSEN 5270: Materials Characterization for Engineers and leads research focused on electrochemical energy storage, solar materials, and hydrogen storage. His group employs X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption (XAS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for materials characterization.

• B.S., California Institute of Technology (1979)
• Ph.D., University of Washington (1983)

Toney's research explores advanced materials for energy storage systems, including:

• Lithium-ion batteries: degradation mechanisms, SEI formation, and fast charging
• Organic photovoltaics (OPVs): morphology control via X-ray scattering techniques
• Perovskite materials: processing-structure-function relationships
• Membranes: ion interactions and chlorine degradation in desalination

His group contributes to initiatives like the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) and XCEL (Extreme Fast Charge Cell Evaluation). Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches to energy storage challenges.

Honors and awards include:

• American Physical Society Fellow (2019)
• Farrell W Lytle Award (2009)
• Multiple IBM Technical Awards (1988–1997)
• NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship (1983)

The group actively engages in outreach programs like the Elementary Arts Lab and DPS high school mentoring, emphasizing science education and work-life balance.