Education

• Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 2013
• M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 2011
• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008

Background

Dr. Matthew McDowell joined Georgia Tech in the fall of 2015 as an assistant professor in the Woodruff School with a joint appointment in the School of Materials Science and Engineering. Prior to this appointment, he was a postdoctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology, where he performed research on improving the stability and efficiency of photoelectrochemical devices for the production of solar fuels. Dr. McDowell received his Ph.D. in 2013 from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University, where his work focused on understanding lithium ion battery materials in operation using in situ electron microscopy techniques, as well as engineering materials for improved battery lifetime and performance.

Research

• Mechanics of materials, micro- and nanoengineering, heat transfer, combustion and energy systems. Electrochemical energy conversion and storage, batteries, in situ characterization of electrochemical energy materials and systems, reaction mechanisms and phase transformations, mechanics of energy materials, mesoscale dynamics of energy systems, catalysis, water splitting for solar fuels, engineering of nanostructured materials and devices.

Dr. McDowell’s research focuses on materials and devices for energy conversion and storage, as well as understanding dynamic materials transformations in electrochemical energy devices and other applications. Electrochemical devices, such as batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers, can be used to efficiently store energy or to produce and consume chemical fuels. As such, they are important for a variety of current and future applications, including mobile electronics, electric vehicles, and for the storage of renewable solar or wind energy. In many cases, however, the performance characteristics of current electrochemical energy devices (for example, the energy density, power density, durability, lifetime, efficiency, and/or cost) are not sufficient for incorporation with emerging technologies. The development of cheaper, long-lasting, and efficient electrochemical devices is a key enabling step towards the reliable utilization of clean energy as well as the development of transportation and mobile electronics technologies. Towards this goal, a variety of different systems are being studied within Dr. McDowell’s research group, including next-generation rechargeable batteries, electrochemical devices for water splitting and sunlight-driven fuel generation, and nanoionic devices for low-power nonvolatile memory.

The research in Dr. McDowell’s group encompasses both the fundamental investigation of materials transformations in electrochemical systems (and in other applications), as well as the development of improved energy systems through materials and device engineering. The operation of electrochemical devices often involves complicated dynamic processes across different length scales; these include the movement of ions and electrons through the device, as well as phase transformations near the surface or in the bulk of active materials (Fig. 1). Engineering the next generation of electrochemical systems requires us to understand and control such processes. An emphasis of Dr. McDowell’s research is the development and use of in situ experimental techniques to probe materials and devices during operation. Such experiments can yield unparalleled insight into the factors limiting device performance and the fundamental nature of electrochemical reactions. In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used for imaging and understanding phase transformations, such as chemical reactions and mechanical fracture of battery materials (Fig. 2), at the nanoscale. In situ TEM experiments are also used to probe various other physical, mechanical, and chemical processes in materials beyond those in electrochemical systems. In addition, other in situ methods for investigating mesoscale dynamics in electrochemical devices are being developed and utilized; these include both spectroscopic and imaging techniques.

Other efforts within the group are devoted to the design, synthesis, and testing of nanoscale materials and structures for improved performance in electrochemical devices. This research is guided by the knowledge gained from fundamental in situ studies of materials and device behavior. This combined fundamental and applied approach is expected to accelerate progress towards better materials and devices. Materials are synthesized with a variety of techniques, including chemical/physical vapor deposition and solution-based methods. The electrochemical characteristics and physical, chemical, and mechanical properties are experimentally investigated; a variety of characterization tools both in our lab and in shared facilities at Georgia Tech are used for this work.