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).

 

International Energy Cooperation Center Established at University of Maryland

MEI2 and KETEP sign research and development program agreement

New solid-state sodium batteries enable lower cost and more sustainable energy storage

Battery technology achieves record high sodium-metal cycling rates

World leader in sustainable construction partners with UMD Start-Up

Saint-Gobain makes major investment in ION Storage Systems

Reflecting on 20 Years of Excellence and Innovation

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

Looking Back on the Fall 2023 Semester, Looking Forward to Sharing a New Strategic Plan in 2024

Happy Holidays from the A. James Clark School of Engineering. We are thankful for your support of Maryland Engineering and look forward to sharing 2024's chapter in our story.

Transformative Battery Structure Surpasses US’ Fast Charge Goals 

Innovative materials and 3D design published in Nature Materials

Israeli Embassy and BIRD Foundation host UMD Energy Consortium

UMD Professor Paul Albertus a Keynote Speaker

Energy Secretary and Maryland Governor visit with MEI2 startups

ARPA-E Summit showcases multiple UMD clean energy technologies

Energy Consortium promotes science and innovation

U.S. - Israel consortium accelerates development of solid-state batteries

UMD Receives ~$5M to Develop More Efficient Electric Vehicle Batteries

Funding Part of ARPA-E Program to Support Advanced Batteries for Electric Vehicles

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.

A Boost for International Research Collaboration

Japanese, U.S. researchers gather for digital innovation workshop.

Alchemity Receives Shell GameChanger Funding

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

Energy patents lead the way for UMCP

USM ranks 10th among US public institutions for patents

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

CREB Receives $9M Cooperative Agreement

DOD funding will advance transformational U.S. Army battery technology

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

Maryland Energy Innovation Institute sunset date removed in special session

Maryland State Legislature embraces energy innovation

UMD Researchers Convert Methane Without Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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

UMD Scientists Convert Methane without Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Methane converted to higher value commodity 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.

Building Energy Innovation in Maryland

Engineering Market Momentum

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.

UMD Researchers to Design Greener Aircraft Engine

Professors Christopher Cadou and Eric Wachsman are developing a hybrid system for commercial aircraft.

Standing with our Asian-American Community

The Clark School community stands united with our Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islanders colleagues.

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

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

14 Mtech-affiliated companies named to Maryland’s list of 20 hottest innovative start-ups

Maryland’s Future 20 is a list of startups that have the potential to be the state’s next major business success story.

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.

Two Maryland Energy Innovation Institute Start-Ups Named to Governor’s Future 20 List

Ion Storage Systems and InventWood hailed as talented innovators

ARL to Fund $30M in Equipment Innovations for Service Members

UMD announces with the U.S. Army Research Lab agreements in additive manufacturing and battery research.

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

MEI2 leads U.S. side of $18.4M U.S.-Israel Energy Center focused on Energy Storage

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

New Report Recommends a Path for the Future of Maryland’s Clean Energy Economy

Comprehensive report on the future of clean energy innovation in Maryland delivered today to Governor Hogan

MEI² Receives Two New Innovative Vehicle Technology Awards

DOE Awards UMD/MEI$2M for Advance Battery Technology

MEI2 Launches First Start-Up in Incubator

Maryland Energy Innovation Institute officially launched its first start-up company, Ion Storage Systems.

UMD/MEI2 Energy Innovation Featured at ARPA-E 2019

ARPA-E Marks 10 Years of Technology Innovation

UMD Energy Start-Up receives $8M investment

Ion Storage Systems partnering with Alsop Louie

Energy Start Up Places 3rd in Battery Competition

Ion Storage Systems one of 5 outstanding finalists in LG Chem Battery Challenge

Wachsman and Wang “Battery 500” Awards selected for Phase II

DOE greenlights 2 UMD awards in second round

MEI2 Awards $5K to Local Start-Up at 2018 Clean Energy Summit

Ion Storage Systems wins Innovation Showcase

Wachsman and group overcome high resistance, low capacity solid-state battery barriers

UMD research paves the way for commercially viable safe batteries

2018 ARPA-E Summit to Showcase UMD Innovations

UMD Energy Innovation Technologies dominate

2018 Engineering Sustainability Day

Join us for an energetic discussion!

Inaugural Energy Innovation Seed Grants awarded

$100K grants promote energy innovation technology

Legislators, University Administrators Gather to Launch Maryland Energy Innovation Institute

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

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

7th Annual Engineering Sustainability Day focuses on Energy Storage

This year's theme focused on energy storage -  pervasive message that we should promote and advocate for scientists and the science.

Gov Hogan Announces UMD’s Role in $65M Environmental Agenda

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has announced $7.5 million in funding to create the Green Energy Institute.

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.

DOE Awards $1.25M to UMERC Researchers to Develop Safer, Better Batteries

The Department of Energy awards UMD research on safer, better Lithium-ion battery technology as part of a $137 million investment in vehicle efficiency.

Fourth Consecutive Win for UMD Electrochemical Society Student Chapter

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

UMD has Largest University Showing at 2016 ARPA-E Summit

UMD researchers showcase transformative energy research at ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit

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

CYC Students Learn About Sustainable Energy

The University of Maryland Center for Young Children (CYC) Tour UMERC

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.

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.

DOE Invests in UMERC Battery Research

Researchers receive $1.2 million to study solid-state Li-ion batteries.

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.

Clark School Faculty Recognized at Celebration of Innovation and Partnerships

Clark School researchers sweep three categories for 2013 Invention of the Year

UMD-Designed WaterShed to Open at Pepco Sustainability Center Dedication

WaterShed sustainable structure was the winner of the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.

The Quest for a Better Battery

UMD Invention of the Year Finalists Charge Ahead

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.

Meet the Potential Future of Electricity Generation

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

Electrochemical Society Student Chapter Wins Chapter Award

Young group named ECS' first Outstanding Student Chapter.

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.

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 Receives Outstanding Achievement Award

Clark School fuel cell expert honored by Electrochemical Society.

UM $75K Business Plan Competition Winners Announced

Clark School teams win alumni category, Warren Citrin Social Impact Award.

Foundation Supports Gore's Efforts to Improve Fuel Cells

MSE graduate student named ARCS Hesse Endowment Fellow.

2012 Energy Research Fellows Announced

Hulka, Hendricks awards will fund diverse sustainable energy research projects.

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.

"Twenty-Year Window of Opportunity"

DOE official calls for "game-changing" technologies at opening of University of Maryland Energy Research Center.

Gov. O'Malley Taps Wachsman for Clean Energy Board

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

175 Percent More Efficient Refrigeration

Clark School team develops "smart" alloy for cooling systems.

Clark School Honors Its Own

Annual Honors & Awards ceremony recognizes stellar students.

Electric Chevrolet Volt Visits Clark School

Raffled test drives, presentations put focus on technology and sustainability.

Clark School Names First UMERC Director

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

Other professional society fellows

  • American Ceramic Society, 2012

Electrochemical Society (ECS)

  • Electrochemical Society, 2008

National Academy of Inventors

  • 2022