Faculty Directory

Wachsman, Eric

Wachsman, Eric

Professor
Director, Maryland Energy Innovation Institute
William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research
Distinguished University Professor
National Academy of Inventors
Fellow, American Ceramic Society
Fellow, Electrochemical Society
Materials Science and Engineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Maryland Energy Innovation Institute
1206A Engineering Lab Building

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Stanford University, 1990

BACKGROUND

Dr. Eric D Wachsman, an expert on solid state batteries and solid oxide fuel cells, is the Director of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute (MEI2), and the William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research with appointments in both the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from Stanford University, and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.

Before joining the University of Maryland, he spearheaded the creation of the Florida Institute on Sustainable Energy at the University of Florida, and served as a senior scientist at SRI International.

His research is focused on solid ion-conducting materials and electrocatalysts, including the development of solid state batteries, solid oxide fuel cells and electrolysis cells, ion-transport membranes, and solid state gas sensors, with over 270 publications and 35 patents/patent applications. To date, three companies have been founded based on these technologies.

He has contributed to the next generation of electrochemists having graduated 34 PhD and 30 MS students, supervised 38 postdocs and research scientists, and mentored several junior faculty. Of these, three have gone on to receive ECS awards. His involvement with students includes founding and serving as Faculty Advisor for ECS student chapters at both the University of Florida and the University of Maryland, with the Maryland chapter winning Outstanding ECS Student Chapter Awards in 2013 and 2017, and ECS Student Chapter of Excellence in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Dr. Wachsman is a frequent invited panelist on fuel cell and hydrogen energy research, ranging from the US Department of Energy “Fuel Cell Report to Congress” and “Basic Research Needs Related to High Temperature Electrochemical Devices for Hydrogen Production, Storage and Use,” to the National Science Foundation “Workshop on Fundamental Research Needs in Ceramics,” NATO “Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conducting (MIEC) Perovskites for Advanced Energy Systems,” and the National Academies “Global Dialogues on Emerging Science and Technologies.” He also serves on numerous boards and was appointed by the Governor to the Board of Directors of the Maryland Clean Energy Center. He is a Fellow of The Electrochemical Society (2008) and the American Ceramic Society (2012), and an elected member of the World Academy of Ceramics (2017). 

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Distinguished University Profess, 2021
  • World Academy of Ceramics, 2017
  • Carl Wagner Memorial Award, The Electrochemical Society, 2017
  • Sir William Grove Award, International Association for Hydrogen Energy, 2014
  • Pfeil Award, The Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining, 2014
  • Outstanding Invention of 2013, University of Maryland, Office of Technology Licensing
  • Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition Award, 2012
  • HTM Outstanding Achievement Award, The Electrochemical Society, 2012
  • Fellow of The American Ceramic Society, 2012
  • Fellow of The Electrochemical Society, 2008
  • Rhines Chair Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, 2008-2009
  • University of Florida Research Foundation Professor, 2005-2008
  • Materials Science & Engineering Faculty Excellence Award, 2007-2008
  • Materials Research Society, Top 5 Hot Talks/Cool Papers, Spring 2007 Meeting
  • University of Florida Faculty Achievement, 2007
  • NASA Johnson Space Center Achievement Award, 2007
  • Materials Science & Engineering Faculty Excellence Award, 2006-2007
  • Materials Science & Engineering Faculty Excellence Award, 2005-2006
  • Materials Science & Engineering Faculty Excellence Award, 2004-2005
  • Progress in Ceramic Basic Science: Challenge Toward the 21st Century, The Basic Science Division, The Ceramic Society of Japan, 1996
  • Xerox Achievement Award, 1984

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Board of Directors, The Electrochemical Society
  • Board of Directors, Maryland Clean Energy Center
  • Councilor, Florida Section of the American Ceramic Society
  • Past chair, ECS High Temperature Materials Division
  • American Chemical Society
  • Editor-in-chief, Ionics
  • Former associate editor, Journal of the American Ceramic Society
  • International Society for Solid State Ionics
  • Materials Research Society

 

Research Interests include:
Solid State Batteries, Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Ion Transport Membranes and Solid State Sensors

For more information on Dr. Wachsman's research groups, click here.


The Wachsman research lab  is developing ceramic materials and processing methods to enable high-power, solid-state, lithium-ion batteries. Conventional lithium-ion batteries contain liquids that necessitate the use of heavy, protective components. By contrast, this technology uses no liquids and offers greater abuse tolerance and reducing weight. Dr. Wachsman's technology also has the potential to help reduce manufacturing costs using scalable, ceramic fabrication techniques that does not require dry rooms or vacuum equipment. 

Dr. Wachsman's advances in fundamental ionic transport and electrocatalysis have revolutionized solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC's), ion transport membranes, and solid state sensors. SOFC's convert fuels directly into electricity, water and CO2, offering exciting applications in utility scale and automobile energy storage. Ion transport membranes are key to syn gas production systems. Solid state sensors provide an inexpensive, rugged sensor that offers a high temperature tolerance and long life span in applications such as NOx detection in combustion exhaust.

The research significantly contributes to the long-term goals of renewable energy, energy storage, fuel flexibility, and low emissions.

For detailed project descriptions, please visit Professor Wachsman's web site

For a complete list of publications, please visit Professor Wachsman's web site

Recent Publications

286. "Effects of surface chemical potentials on cation segregation", Ostrovskiy, Eugene and Huang, Yi-Lin and Wachsman, Eric D., J. Mater. Chem. A (2021), Vol. 9, pp. 1593-1602, DOI:10.1039/D0TA08850A.

285. "Amorphous-Carbon-Coated 3D Solid Electrolyte for an Electro-Chemomechanically Stable Lithium Metal Anode in Solid-State Batteries", Hua Xie, Chunpeng Yang, Yaoyu Ren, Shaomao Xu, Tanner R. Hamann, Dennis Wayne McOwen, Eric D. Wachsman, and Liangbing Hu, Nano Letters 2021 21 (14), 6163-6170, DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01748

284. "Transition from perovskite to misfit-layered structure materials: a highly oxygen deficient and stable oxygen electrode catalyst", Saqib, Muhammad and Choi, In-Gyu and Bae, Hohan and Park, Kwangho and Shin, Ji-Seop and Kim, You-Dong and Lee, John-In and Jo, Minkyeong and Kim, Yeong-Cehol and Lee, Kug-Seung and Song, Sun-Ju and Wachsman, Eric D. and Park, Jun-Young, Energy and Environmental Science, 2021, Vol. 14, pp. 2472-2484, DOI: 10.1039/D0EE02799E

283. "Computation-guided discovery of coating materials to stabilize the interface between lithium garnet solid electrolyte and high-energy cathodes for all-solid-state lithium batteries", Adelaide M. Nolan, Eric D. Wachsman, and Yifei Mo, Energy Storage Materials, 2021, Vol. 41, pp. 571-580, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2021.06.027

282. "Controlling exsolution with a charge-balanced doping approach", Samuel A. Horlick, Yi-Lin Huang, Ian A. Robinson, Eric D. Wachsman, Nano Energy, Volume 87, 2021,



ISSN 2211-2855, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106193

281. “Methane-to-Aromatics in a Gas Recycle Methane Reactor/Hydrogen Membrane Separator,” M. Sakbodin, E. Schulman, Y. Pan, E.D. Wachsman, and D. Liu, Catalysis Today, on-line https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2020.06.028 (2021).

 

Reflecting on 20 Years of Excellence and Innovation

Materials Science and Engineering celebrated its anniversary on November 7, 2023.

Transformative Battery Structure Surpasses US’ Fast Charge Goals 

Innovative materials and 3D design published in Nature Materials

UMD ARPA-E project highlighted on Capitol Hill

ARPA-E Energy Innovation Showcase with Rep. Brandon Hill

Ten Maryland MSE Faculty Members Ranked in Top 2% of World Scientists

Elsevier releases updated science-wide database

Maryland Engineers Wachsman, Zhao elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Eric Wachsman and Ji-Cheng “JC” Zhao have been named to the National Academy of Inventors’ (NAI) Class of 2022 Fellows, joining the ranks of some of the nation’s most prestigious and creative academic inventors.

Alchemity Receives Shell GameChanger Funding

MEI2/UMD Start-up Company Selected by Shell GameChanger to Prove New Concept to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

MPT State Circle Highlights UMD Innovative Energy Technology

Dr. Eric Wachsman discusses energy storage with Maryland Public Television

MEI2 Director discusses future EV battery tech on Fox29

Eric Wachsman on battery myths and facts

Rethinking the Architecture of Solid-State Batteries: ION Closes $30M Investment Round

Toyota Ventures, Tenaska, and Bangchak Corporation Join Oversubscribed Round Led by Clear Creek Investments, VoLo Earth Ventures, and Alsop Louie Partners

U.S. Bets on Faster Charging Battery in Race to Catch Energy Rivals

Ion Storage aims to offer longer-lasting power source

Ion Storage Systems Announces $30M Investment

Proceeds – provided by Clear Creek Investments, VoLo Earth Ventures and Alsop Louie Partners – will be used to produce 1st Generation commercial cells.

Batteries that function in the iciest conditions

CREB held its 2021 fall meeting to discuss battery chemistry designed for super-cold environments.

UMD top ranked U.S. university for solid-state battery research publications

Elsevier study indicates UMD has highest publication citation index globally

UMD Researchers Convert Methane Without Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Pioneering discovery would cut energy waste and create valuable industrial chemicals.

Convocation to Shine Spotlight on Faculty, Staff Accomplishments

Six Clark School faculty and staff will be honored at UMD's 38th annual Convocation on Sept. 15, 2021.

Maryland Engineering ranked #12 public undergraduate program in the country

For the third consecutive year, the Clark School's rises in U.S. News & World Report ranking.

Pecht, Wachsman Named Distinguished University Professors

The title is a recognition of excellence, impact, and significant contribution to the nominee's field, knowledge, profession, and/or practice.

Eric Wachsman Elected President of Electrochemical Society

Wachsman’s appointment effective June 10, 2021 for a two-year term.

Clark School Innovators Honored with Invention of the Year Award Nominations

Among the nine 2021 Invention of the Year nominees, four are led by or include Clark School researchers.

CREB Kicks Off 2021 with Meeting to Discuss Future of Battery Research

The virtual meeting aimed to bolster battery technology under extreme conditions.

10 Maryland MSE Faculty Members Ranked in Top 2% of World Scientists

Report prepared by Stanford University experts.

UMD Makes U.S. DOE Solar District Cup Finals

The Solar District Cup challenges multidisciplinary student teams to design and model optimized distributed energy systems for a campus or urban district.

UMD Engineering Receives $22.8M from U.S. Army to Collaboratively Advance Additive Manufacturing Technology

The University of Maryland College Park's research partnership with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory will establish an ecosystem for revolutionary additive manufacturing technology and concepts to expedite national readiness and response.

Dean Briber Honors Faculty with Research, Teaching Awards

Each year, the dean of the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering honors exemplary faculty members for their dedication to excellence in research and teaching.

Energy Start-Up Continues to Make Waves

Ion Storage Systems highlighted in SiliconRepublic

MSE Ranked #23 by U.S. News and World Report

UMD’s Materials Science and Engineering Department hits #23 in U.S. graduate school rankings – its highest ranking yet.

UMD Faculty Members to Lead U.S. Side of $18.4M U.S.-Israel Energy Center Project

Project will develop lithium and sodium metal solid-state-batteries for advanced energy storage applications.

Ion Storage Systems Says Its Ceramic Electrolyte Could Be a Gamechanger for Solid-State Batteries

A superthin electrolyte with three layers could deliver safe, fast-charging batteries

Enhanced Structure for Solid State Li-ion Batteries

ARPA-E Spotlights UMD Awardee Eric Wachsman.

UMD ARPA-E Innovations transitioning to commercial reality

Transforming energy research into useable technology

2018 ARPA-E Summit to Showcase UMD Innovations

UMD Energy Innovation Technologies dominate

UMD Researchers Create New Architecture for Solid-State Li-ion Batteries

Novel garnet-fiber textiles maintain desired electrolyte flexibility while enabling high-capacity Li-metal anodes. 

2018 Engineering Sustainability Day

Join us for an energetic discussion!

UMD Researchers Seek to Improve 3D Microstructure Characterization at the Nanoscale

FIB/SEM utilized to perform nanotomography on solid oxide fuel cells.

Legislators, University Administrators Gather to Launch Maryland Energy Innovation Institute

The institute was created to turn research breakthroughs into commercial, clean energy solutions.

ChBE Researchers Develop Clean, Efficient Method of Natural Gas Conversion

Sakbodin, Liu and Wachsman have created a membrane reactor that converts methane gas into more valuable material.

Eric Wachsman to Receive 2017 Wagner Memorial Award

Award will be presented at the 232nd ECS Meeting in October.

Wachsman Recipient of 2017 Carl Wagner Memorial Award

Electrochemical Society honors UMD's Eric Wacshman

Gov. Hogan Signs into Law $7.5M Maryland Energy Innovation Institute at UMD

MSE/ChBE Professor Eric Wachsman will tak a lead role in its development.

UMD Researchers Find Ultra-thin Solution to Primary Obstacle in Solid-State Battery Development

Clark School researchers are developing game-changing solid-state battery technology

Energy Research Center battery highlighted on CBS This Morning

CBS featured UMD innovative energy research on its national morning news show.

UMERC Director Keynote Speaker at Battery Safety Conference in November

UMERC Director Eric Wachsman will deliver the Keynote Presentation at the 7th Annual Battery Safety Conference, Nov 3-4, 2016.

Hu wins 2015 Junior Faculty Outstanding Research Award

Shows "promise [for] significant and lasting impact" in nanoscience

UMD Students Win Third Consecutive Electrochemical Society Student Chapter Award

University of Maryland Electrochemical Society Students win Student Chapter Award for the third year in a row.

Gates Foundations awards UMD project to address world sanitation problems

UMD researchers receive award for the tri-generation of heat, power, and potable water from waste.

University of Maryland Researchers Accept NASA Mission: Build a Better Battery for Space Exploration

UMD researchers awarded NASA funding for advanced energy storage technology

Redox Named Best Green Company in Maryland for 2015

The Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards Best Environmental/Energy Company to Redox Power Systems.

High Energy at Extreme Battery Center’s First Meeting

New research center expands scope and draws regional experts.

Rubloff One of 9 Finalists for UMD Invention of the Year

Office of Technology Commercialization to announce winners at the Celebration of Innovation and Partnerships, April 29.

Redox Fuel Cell Technology Highlighted in Gigaom Tech

Redox Fuel Cell Technology Highlighted in Gigaom, the leading global voice on emerging technologies.

UMERC Researchers Came Out in Force at the ARPA-E Summit

UMERC Faculty promoted their transformative energy research last week at the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit

Wachsman’s Presentation on Water/Energy Relationships Featured in MRS Meeting Scene

Professor describes how each relies on, and is affected by, the other.

Hu, Leite Named Outstanding Engineer and Scientist of the Year (VIDEO)

Materials Science professors receive awards from the Md. Academy of Sciences and Md. Science Center.

UMERC's Advanced Energy Storage Technology Selected by NASA

Energy storage research at UMERC has been selected by NASA to potentially power future space missions.

Redox, UMD, Microsoft, Trans-Tech to Develop Transformational Natural Gas Fuel Cells Through $5 Million in ARPA-E Funding

The goal of the project is to further advance Redox's high-performance fuel cells and drive them to market-readiness for a broad range of applications.

Using Solar Energy to Make Safer Drinking Water

Wachsman Wins Pfeil Award for work on new photocatalyst.

Hu, Wachsman Win Invention of the Year Award

MSE/UMERC professors team with U. Calgary to create advanced Li-ion batteries.

Is This the Future of Electricity Generation?

Redox Power Systems, UMD develop breakthrough fuel cells to provide efficient, affordable electricity.

The Quest for a Better Battery

UMD Invention of the Year Finalists Charge Ahead

Over Half of Tenured MSE Professors Are UMD "Research Leaders"

Division of Research honors faculty for funded research.

25 Kilowatts in a Redox Box: Affordable Fuel Cell, Cheaper Power

MIT Technology Review highlights Wachsman's plan to reduce grid strain and energy costs.

UMD Researchers Awarded Two ARPA-E Grants for Electric Vehicle Energy Storage Systems

Eric Wachsman and Chunsheng Wang receive funding to create innovative batteries for electric vehicle energy storage systems.

UMD Energy Innovations Featured Prominently in the News

Clark School energy research, including solid oxide fuel cells and wood battery, featured in variety of mainstream media outlets.

Electrochemical Society Student Chapter Wins Chapter Award

Young group named ECS' first Outstanding Student Chapter.

Second ARCS Fellowship for Gore

Award supports grad student's continuing development of fuel cell technology.

Wachsman Talks Fuel Cells on "Ceramic Tech Today" (VIDEO)

American Ceramic Society blog features talk on role of solid oxide fuel cells in nation's energy strategy.

UMD Students Visit Congress to Raise Visibility for Science, Engineering and Technology

UMD's Student Chapter of the Electrochemical Society met with Congress on March 12-13 to show value of R&D funding.

Eric Wachsman Chosen as Solar 2013 Conference Chair

Wachsman joins distinguised panel of advisory members.

Rubloff Co-Authors Major DoE Report on Emerging Energy Technologies

Publication focuses on opportunities in mesoscale science.

Wachsman Wins Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy Exposition Award

Energy Center director honored for work to commercialize fuel cells.

Wachsman Elected Fellow

American Ceramic Society honors professor's work in fuel cell development.

Wachsman Pioneers Transformational Energy Technology

TAP-based Redox Power Systems offers future energy solutions.

Wachsman Tapped for Grid Reliability Panel

Clark School's Ayyub also provides testimony for roundtable on improving Maryland's electric distribution system.

Wachsman Receives Outstanding Achievement Award

Clark School fuel cell expert honored by Electrochemical Society.

Energy Team Turns in Strong Performance at $75K Business Plan Competition

RedOx takes second place in division, wins Warren Citrin Social Impact Award.

Foundation Supports Gore's Efforts to Improve Fuel Cells

MSE graduate student named ARCS Hesse Endowment Fellow.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Research Sparks Media Coverage

Recent press release gets attention from Scientific American, others.

Want Fuel Cells? Think Outside the Hydrogen Tank

Energy expert advocates investing in "the other fuel cell" to reduce reliance on fossil fuels now, not in decades.

Energy Center Celebrates Grand Opening

Top federal and state energy advisors speak at event. Watch online.

Lidie Wins SMART Scholarship

Program includes tuition, stipend, internships, and employment.

Rabin, Rubloff, Takeuchi, and Wachsman Present at Sustainability Workshop

Presentations covered fuel cells, storage, reclaimed waste heat, thermoelastic cooling.

Gov. O'Malley Taps Wachsman for Clean Energy Board

UMERC director appointed to Board of Directors of the Maryland Clean Energy Center.

Wachsman on Fuel Cells Chosen for ACS Bulletin Cover Story

Article discusses current deployment, development challenges.

"Smart" Alloy Could Make Cooling Systems 175% More Efficient

$500K DOE ARPA-E grant for groundbreaking energy research.

2009-2010 MSE Undergraduate Awards

Students recognized at annual Clark School event.

Wachsman to Deliver Pennergy Lecture

UMERC director invited to participate in UPenn's prestigious energy colloquium.

Clark School Names First UMERC Director

Fuel cell expert, national panelist Eric Wachsman to lead energy research efforts.

  • American Ceramic Society, 2012

  • Electrochemical Society, 2008

  • 2022