The transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy is a significant challenge, according to Mohammad Asadi, an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering. Asadi aims to replace fossil fuels with energy-efficient and economically feasible energy conversion and storage systems. He targets applications in aviation, trains, ships, and heavy-duty trucks.

Asadi shared his background: "I was working in oil and gas industry for at least seven years. I was at a point that I thought maybe the things I'm working on are not really sustainable for the world, and I need to move on and find something beneficial for the community and society."

He further elaborated on his motivation: "I was actually thinking about the way carbon dioxide is released by burning fossil fuels and how much that can impact more down the road, and I thought maybe there is a way to get that carbon and add it with water to make something useful."

Asadi's research focuses on both materials development for these systems to make them efficient and effective while also increasing system efficiency through new devices and processes. His work spans three laboratories: one focused on material development, another called Battery Lab aimed at finding high-energy-density batteries or alternatives to lithium batteries, and a third lab named CO2 Electrocatalysis Lab or CO2 Electroconversion Lab.

"The new generation of battery is needed because the current battery can deliver a certain amount of energy density," Asadi explained. "Energy density is the amount of energy that can be stored in a certain rate or size. What we are trying to do is minimize that size as much as possible so then you can pack them in large amounts but at lower weight."

Regarding his work in CO2 Electrocatalysis Lab, Asadi stated: "The overall goal is to electrify chemical manufacturing so we want to have green chemicals down the road. This process can take electricity and carbon dioxide and convert it into chemicals, which can really reduce the carbon footprint for making those chemicals down the road."