معرفی
Thomas Zawodzinski is the UT-ORNL Governor's Chair in Electrical Energy Storage with dual appointments at the University of Tennessee's Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Appointed in 2009, he leads research in energy conversion and storage technologies, bridging academic and national laboratory resources to advance battery and fuel cell science.
Dr. Zawodzinski earned his PhD in Chemistry from SUNY/Buffalo, where he focused on electrochemical devices for energy applications. His educational background includes fundamental and applied studies of batteries and fuel cells, applications of NMR methods to study transport and structure in device components, and development of advanced functional materials.
Zawodzinski's research spans the entire spectrum from molecular-level understanding to practical device implementation in energy storage. His work focuses on fuel cells, battery technologies, and electrical energy conversion systems. Key areas include development of advanced electrolytes and membranes, water management in fuel cells, and application of NMR to chemical engineering problems. His research group has made significant contributions to redox flow batteries, metal-air batteries, and membrane technologies that enable more efficient energy storage solutions.
His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward solid-state battery technologies, advanced membrane development for redox flow batteries, and novel materials for intermediate-temperature fuel cells. The research shows increasing focus on practical implementation challenges including mechanical stability of thin electrolytes, prevention of crossover phenomena, and development of robust materials that can withstand demanding operational conditions in next-generation energy storage systems.
Dr. Zawodzinski has received numerous prestigious honors for his contributions to the field:
- 2016 ECS Energy Technology Division Research Award
- ECS Fellow designation
- Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowships
- Poly Fellow recognition
Zawodzinski maintains strong industry collaborations, currently working with four Knoxville-area start-ups. His major research initiatives include leading the university research aspect of the Second Life Battery Storage Project (repurposing EV batteries for grid storage), participating in the Breakthrough Electrolytes for Energy Storage and Systems (BEES2) project, developing materials for the Department of Energy's Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck consortium, advancing "green methanol" technology that converts CO2 to methanol, and creating high-energy density batteries for Army eVTOL aircraft applications.
He leads the Energy Storage and Conversion Group at ORNL and maintains the "Z Group" research team at UT Knoxville, fostering a collaborative environment that bridges fundamental science with practical engineering solutions for next-generation energy storage technologies.
