Bio
Muhammad Mominur Rahman is an Alvin M. Weinberg Fellow in the Emerging and Solid State Batteries group at the Electrification and Energy Infrastructures Division. He earned his PhD in Chemistry from Virginia Tech (May 2021). His dissertation focused on characterizing the depth dependent structural and chemical processes in layered oxide cathodes for Na-ion and Li-ion batteries through utilizing synchrotron characterizations and formulating the design principles of stable layered oxide cathodes for these batteries. He worked to untangle the multiscale processes taking place in battery cathodes during operation and reveal the design principles of battery cathodes operating under extreme conditions such as in outer space and nuclear reactors. Before joining ORNL as a DSF fellow, he worked as a postdoctoral research associate at Brookhaven National Laboratory (August 2021- December 2023).
Mominur’s fellowship will focus on materials development aided by advanced characterizations for beyond Li-ion batteries with a focus on sulfur cathodes and lithium-metal anodes. His research will tackle the fundamental issues facing these batteries such as polysulfide dissolution and lithium-metal anode reactivity, taking advantage of the state-of-the-art characterization facilities and battery manufacturing facilities available at ORNL. The project will contribute to the development of next-generation high-energy batteries utilizing cheap and abundant sulfur cathodes and high-energy lithium-metal anodes to secure the supply chain of battery manufacturing and ensure the widespread application of batteries in electric vehicles. Mominur’s ongoing research interests include electrochemistry and materials chemistry for electrochemical energy storage devices as well as advanced synchrotron characterization of battery materials.
Professional Experience
Weinberg Distinguished Staff Fellow 2024, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Chemistry research associate (August 2021 – December 2023; worked in DOE Battery500 Consortium), Brookhaven National Laboratory
Graduate research assistant (August 2016 - May 2021), Virginia Tech
Awards
Weinberg Distinguished Staff Fellowship 2024, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Electrochemical Society Battery Division Student Research Award, 2021
Chemistry Graduate Research Award, Virginia Tech, 2020
Graduate School Doctoral Assistantship Award, Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Spring 2019
Finalist of the Graduate Student of the Year Award, Virginia Tech, 2020
Dean’s Award, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Dhaka, 2014
Dr. Aminul Haque-Atiya Haque Memorial Gold Medal, Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Dhaka, 2014
Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Foundation Scholarship, 2013
Dutch Bangla Bank Foundation Scholarship, 2011-2015
Education
Ph.D. in chemistry (August 2016 - May 2021)
Virginia Tech, USA; Supervisor: Prof. Feng Lin
M.S. in applied chemistry and chemical engineering (2016)
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; Supervisor: Prof. Sayed Md. Shamsuddin
B.S. in applied chemistry and chemical engineering (2014)
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Other Publications
(1) Rahman, M. M.; Tan, S.; Yang, Y.; Zhong, H.; Ghose, S.; Waluyo, I.; Hunt, A.; Ma, L.; Yang, X.-Q.; Hu, E. An inorganic-rich but LiF-free interphase for fast charging and long cycle life lithium metal batteries. Nat. Commun. 2023, 14 (1), 8414.
(2) Rahman, M. M.; Hu, E. Electron Delocalization Enables Sulfone‐based Single‐solvent Electrolyte for Lithium Metal Batteries. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, e202311051.
(3) Rahman, M. M.; Xia, K.; Yang, X.-Q.; Ariyoshi, K.; Hu, E. Asymmetric lithium extraction and insertion in high voltage spinel at fast rate. Nano Lett. 2023, 23 (15), 7135-7142.
(4) Rahman, M. M. (co-corresponding author); Lin, F. Reports from the Frontier-Strategies to design stable layered oxide cathode for Na-ion batteries. Electrochem. Soc. Interface 2022, 31 (4) (invited).
(5) Rahman, M. M.; McGuigan, S.; Li, S.; Gao, L.; Hou, D.; Yang, Z.; Xu, Z.; Lee, S.-J.; Sun, C.-J.; Liu, J.; Huang, X.; Xiao, X.; Chu, Y.; Sainio, S.; Nordlund, D.; Kong, X.; Liu, Y.; Lin, F. Chemical Modulation of Local Transition Metal Environment Enables Reversible Oxygen Redox in Mn-Based Layered Cathodes. ACS Energy Lett. 2021, 2882–2890.
(6) Rahman, M. M.; Lin, F. Oxygen Redox Chemistry in Rechargeable Li-Ion and Na-Ion Batteries. Matter 2021, 4 (2), 490–527.
(7) Rahman, M. M.; Chen, W.-Y.; Mu, L.; Xu, Z.; Jiang, Z.; Liu, Y.; Li, M.; Bai, X.; Lin, F., Defect and structural evolution under high energy ion irradiation informs battery materials design for extreme environments. Nat. Commun. 2020, 11 (1), 4548.
(8) Rahman, M. M.; Mao, J.; Kan, W. H.; Sun, C.-J.; Li, L.; Zhang, Y.; Avdeev, M.; Du, X.-W.; Lin, F. An Ordered P2/P3 Composite Layered Oxide Cathode with Long Cycle Life in Sodium-Ion Batteries. ACS Mater. Lett. 2019, 1 (5), 573–581 (one of the most downloaded papers from 2019 and 2020).
(9) Rahman, M. M.; Zhang, Y.; Xia, S.; Kan, W. H.; Avdeev, M.; Mu, L.; Sokaras, D.; Kroll, T.; Du, X. W.; Nordlund, D.; et al. Surface Characterization of Li-Substituted Compositionally Heterogeneous NaLi0.045Cu0.185Fe0.265Mn0.505O2 Sodium-Ion Cathode Material. J. Phys. Chem. C 2019, 123 (18), 11428–11435.
(10) Rahman, M. M.; Xu, Y.; Cheng, H.; Shi, Q.; Kou, R.; Mu, L.; Liu, Q.; Xia, S.; Xiao, X.; Sun, C.-J.; et al. Empowering Multicomponent Cathode Materials for Sodium Ion Batteries by Exploring Three-Dimensional Compositional Heterogeneities. Energy Environ. Sci. 2018, 11 (9), 2496–2508.