(64g) Electrochemical Innovations from Renewable Energy to Sustainable Mining

Long-term decarbonization of the power sector and the materials manufacturing sector is one of the most urgent challenges of our era. Without decisive action, carbon emissions from these sectors are projected to more than double by 2050. The rapid expansion of affordable renewable electricity presents unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize conventional processes through electrochemistry, offering solutions to our society’s grand challenges. In this talk, I will share my research integrating foundational principles from mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and electrochemistry to advance energy storage and materials sustainability. First, I will discuss fluid mechanics and electrolyte design strategies for stabilizing metal electrodeposition at electrode interfaces, leveraging machine-learning-boosted in situ visualization and demonstrating practical battery applications, such as energy-embedded swimming robots. Next, I will introduce a closed-loop materials recovery platform that uses electrochemically mediated techniques to separate waste into valuable product streams without generating additional waste, while doubling net revenue based on a technoeconomic model. Looking ahead, my research will delve deeper into fundamental mechanisms and pioneer technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future.