Vilas Pol

Professor Vilas Pol is a distinguished faculty member in the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University, where he has served as a Professor since August 2020, following his promotion from Associate Professor (January 2014-July 2020). His research focuses on electrochemical energy storage technologies, particularly the design and optimization of electrode materials, separator designs, and electrolyte discovery for various battery systems with emphasis on thermal safety aspects.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D., University of Bar-Ilan, Israel, 2005
• M.Sc., Pune University, India, 1996

Professor Pol's research interests center on developing safer and more efficient energy storage solutions across multiple battery chemistries. His work spans lithium-ion, sodium-ion, potassium-ion, and lithium-sulfur batteries, with particular emphasis on thermal safety and extreme temperature operation. Using advanced techniques like sonochemistry, solvent-free autogenic chemical reactions, hydrothermal synthesis, and microwave irradiation, his team fabricates innovative electrode materials for next-generation battery systems. Current research efforts include understanding thermal runaway mechanisms, synthesizing novel carbon architectures, and developing high-capacity anode and cathode materials with sustainable approaches.

His publication record shows a consistent trajectory toward addressing fundamental battery safety challenges while pushing performance boundaries. Recent work demonstrates increasing focus on electrolyte engineering for ultra-low temperature operation (-100°C), novel separator designs for thermal stability, and advanced electrode architectures that mitigate safety risks without sacrificing energy density. This research bridges fundamental materials science with practical battery engineering challenges across multiple energy storage platforms.

Professor Pol has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing his contributions:

• Foreign Fellow – Chemical Sciences Maharashtra Academy of Science (2023)
• Purdue College of Engineering Most Impactful Faculty Inventors (2022, 2023)
• Multiple Purdue University Outstanding Engineering Teacher awards
• GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ for lowest temperature charging of lithium-ion batteries (-100°C)
• AIChE Excellence in Process Development Research Award (2021)
• TMS Energy Best Paper Award (2021)

He leads the Vilas Pol Energy Research (ViPER) group, mentoring numerous graduate students, research associates, and undergraduate researchers. His research is supported by significant grants from government agencies including DoD, DOE, and industry partners. Professor Pol maintains extensive collaborations with academic modeling groups, national laboratories (including Argonne where he previously worked), and industry partners worldwide to accelerate battery technology development.

The ViPER research group operates state-of-the-art facilities for battery materials synthesis, characterization, and testing. They maintain strong international collaborations and work closely with industry to translate research findings into practical applications. Current projects focus on developing safer battery systems for defense applications, extreme temperature operation, and sustainable energy storage solutions with emphasis on thermal safety aspects across multiple battery chemistries.