Manthiram Laboratory

Arumugam Manthiram

Cockrell Family Regents Chair in Engineering
Director, Texas Materials Institute
Director, Materials Science and Engineering Program

Our research is focused on the design and development of affordable, efficient, durable materials for electrochemical energy conversion and storage to address global energy and environmental challenges. Specifically, we focus on materials for batteries and fuel cells.

Nanocomposite foil anodes
High-nickel cathodes and cathode-electrolyte interaction
Efficient lithium-sulfer batteries with a catalyst
Mediator-ion redox flow batteries
Low-cost metal-sulfur batteries
Solid oxide cells

A History of Excellence

  • Manthiram group is blessed with a large team of highly motivated, self-driven students and postdocs, who go on to pursue impressive careers in academia, national labs, and industry or become entrepreneurs; the group is engaged with innovations in a broad range of batteries (see research and publications pages).
  • Manthiram’s work in the 1980s opened up the broad field of polyanion oxide cathodes for batteries, which is one of the three families of cathodes used in commercial lithium-ion batteries; they are also pursued as cathodes for sodium-ion and multivalent-ion batteries (see Nature Communications 2020, 11, 1550).
  • Manthiram group has developed cobalt-free layered oxide cathodes for lithium-ion batteries, relieving expensive cobalt and supply chain issues (see Advanced Materials 2020, 2002718).
  • Manthiram group is advancing the viability of lithium-sulfur batteries by employing practically necessary cell parameters with innovations in materials (see Joule 2020, 4, 1121).
  • Manthiram delivered the 2019 Chemistry Nobel Prize Lecture on behalf of Professor John B. Goodenough. View the Youtube video here: https://youtu.be/Xlm-C-qr63Y.

  • Manthiram was recognized with the 2020 ECS Henry B. Linford award for distinguished teaching! See the virtual award presentation clip here: https://youtu.be/wWbsQJgGJO4