Beniamin Zahirisabzevar

Education

• Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Alberta, 2012
• BSc., Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Tehran, 2008

Biography

Beniamin Zahiri is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Material Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign working with Prof. Paul Braun group. He received his PhD in Material Science and Engineering at the University of Alberta, Canada in 2012. Prior to his appointment at the MatSE department in UIUC, he has served in the capacity of postdoctoral fellow, material scientist, laboratory manager and electrochemical scientist in academic, corporate and startup environments between 2012 to 2019. His past research focus is coupled electron microscopy-electrochemical analysis of materials in energy conversion and storage topics including Li-ion and Na-ion batteries, metal oxide supercapacitors, solid-state hydrogen storage, electrocatalyst development for oxygen reduction reaction of polymer exchange membrane fuel cells, and electrolytic conversion of wastewater to value chemicals in oil and gas and Li brine mining processes. His current research focuses on re-defining the role of interfaces in solid-state batteries with the aid of in-situ electrochemical analysis aiming for development of next-generation high energy density Li-ion batteries. He is co-PI on two related grants including a DARPA and an Army Corps of Engineering on next generation Li-ion batteries as well as co-recipient of the DOE American-Made Geothermal Lithium Extraction Prize. He is the recipient of multiple University Travel Awards (UofAlberta, UBC), co-author of more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, 4 patents, and a successful University-Industry collaborative research grant.

Academic Positions

• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alberta, Canada, Li- and Na-ion Batteries, 2012 - 2014
• Industrial Postdoctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia, Canada, Fuel Cell Characterization, 2014 - 2015
• Postdoctoral Fellow and Lab Manager, University of British Columbia, Canada, Surface Science and Smart Surfaces, 2015 - 2017
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Solid-State Batteries, 2019 - 2021
• Research Assistant Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, High Energy Batteries and Li Extraction From Brines, 2021 - Present

Other Professional Employment

• Electrochemical Scientist, Mangrove Lithium (formerly Mangrove Water Technologies), Canada, 2017 - 2019

Research Statement

Zahiri group is interested in fundamental understanding of electrode-electrolyte interfacial reactions in a variety of electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems. Recent efforts focus on chemomechanical interaction at electrode-solid electrolyte interfaces in Li-metal solid-state batteries under practical operation regime. Ongoing research also focuses on scaling up manufacturing of solid-state batteries in pouch level format. Another research direction is focused on selective extraction of Li form variety of brine sources (geothermal, continental, produced water).

Research Interests

• Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Materials and Mechanisms
• Smart Superhydrophobic Materials and Surfaces
• PEM Fuel Cell Catalyst Layer Design and Characterization
• Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalyst Design
• Practical High Energy Density Solid-State Batteries
• Electrochemical Lithium Recovery From Brines
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Energy and the Environment

Selected Articles in Journals

• B. Zahiri, M. Danaie , X. Tan , G.A. Botton, B.S. Amirkhiz, D. Mitlin, "Stable Hydrogen Storage Cycling in Magnesium Hydride, in the Range of Room Temperature to 300 C, Achieved Using a New Bimetallic Cr-V Nanoscale Catalyst", Journal of Physical Chemistry C 116 (4), 3188-3199 (2012)
• B. Zahiri, P.K. Sow, C.H. Kung, W. Merida, "Validation of surface wettability theories via electrochemical analysis", Electrochemistry Communications 68, 95-98 (2016)
• B. Zahiri, P.K. Sow, C.H. Kung, W. Merida, "Active Control over the Wettability from Superhydrophobic to Superhydrophilic by Electrochemically Altering the Oxidation State in a Low Voltage Range", Advanced Materials Interfaces, 1700121 (2017) (Cover Story)
• Z. Cheng*, B. Zahiri*, X. Ji, C. Chen, D. Chalise, P.V. Braun, D.G. Cahill, "Good Solid-State Electrolytes Have Low, Glass-like Thermal Conductivity", Small 2101693 (2021) (*equal contr.)
• B. Zahiri, A. Patra, C. Kiggins, A. Yong, E. Ertekin, P. V. Braun, "Revealing the role of the cathode-electrolyte interface on solid-state batteries", Nature Materials 1-9 (2021)
• P. J. Kwon, C. Juarez-Yescas, H. Jeong, S. Moradi, E. Gao, D. Lawrence, B. Zahiri, and P. V. Braun., "Chemo-electrochemical Evolution of Cathode–Solid Electrolyte Interface in All-Solid-State Batteries", ACS Energy Letters, 9, 4746-4752, (2024)