Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Boston College received a $345,733 CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Materials Research (Mathematical and Physical Sciences program, CFDA 47.049) effective September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2031. The project delivers fundamental research on layered oxychloride materials as a new class of intercalation compounds for next-generation lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery applications. The principal investigator and research team will establish structure-property relationships across a range of compositions to unlock the intercalation properties of these mixed-anion materials, which have previously been considered too chemically unstable for battery use. By identifying suitable liquid electrolytes to stabilize these materials, the research aims to develop a novel material pipeline that reduces dependence on geographically constrained critical materials such as nickel and cobalt currently dominant in battery technology.

Beyond the core scientific research, the award includes educational and outreach components designed to strengthen the workforce pipeline in energy materials research. Boston College will develop seminar series content and class curricula for undergraduate and graduate students while organizing K-12 outreach activities targeting grades 8-12, with particular focus on first-generation students in the Boston area through partnership with the Pine Manor Institute for Student Success. These integrated educational activities complement the fundamental knowledge generated through the materials chemistry investigation.