Linda Nazar

• Solid state electrochemistry
• Li-ion, Na-ion, Zn-ion and Mg-ion batteries; Li-S and Li-O₂ batteries
• Nanostructured materials
• X-ray and neutron diffraction
• Energy storage materials

Linda Nazar’s research focus encompasses complex material synthesis, physical and structural characterization, electrochemical testing and electrode design for various energy storage devices. Promising new directions particularly lie in nanomaterials. They offer the possibility of moving into the realm of high-capacity systems that operate on the basis of intimate contact of the redox active components.

The research employs a range of physical chemistry techniques, including ex-situ and in-situ studies involving X-ray/neutron diffraction, Raman microprobe and NMR spectroscopies, combined with fundamental electrochemical studies used to examine the underlying processes in solids. 

Recent course offerings have included

• Transition Element Compounds and Inorganic Materials
• Ion and Electron Transport in Solids

Recent publications include

• Q. Pang, L. Zhou and L.F. Nazar, An elastic and Li+-ion-conducting hybrid membrane stabilizes Li metal plating, PNAS, 115, 12389 - 12394. (2018) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1809187115
• C. Xia, C.Y. Kwok, L.F. Nazar, A High Energy Density Lithium-Oxygen Battery Based on a Reversible Four Electron Conversion to Lithium Oxide, Science, 361, 777-781 (2018).
• Q. Pang, X. Liang, P. Hartmann and L.F. Nazar, Stabilizing Li Plating by an in-vivo Formed Biphasic Surface Layer, Angewandte Chemie, 57, 9795 -9798 (2018). Hot Paper.
• X. Liang, Q. Pang, I. Kochetkov, M. Safont-Sempere, H. Huang, X. Sun, L.F. Nazar, A facile surface chemistry route to a stabilized lithium metal anode, Nature Energy, 2, 17119 – 17126 (2017).
• C.Xia, R. Fernandes, R. Black, B. Adams and L.F. Nazar, Critical Role of Phase Transfer Catalysts for Aprotic Metal Air Batteries, Nature Chemistry, 7, 496-501 (2015).  DOI: 10.1038/nchem.2260
• E. Talaie, V. Duffort, H. Smith, B. Fultz, L.F. Nazar, Structure of the High Voltage Phase of Layered P2-Nax[Mn_1/2Fe_1/2]O₂ and the Positive Effect of Ni Substitution on its Electrochemical Stability, Energy Environ. Sci, 8, 2512-2523 (2015).  DOI: 10.1039/C5EE01365H.
• D. Kundu, R. Black, B. Adams, and L.F. Nazar, A New Redox Mediator for the Li-O₂ cell, ACS Central Science, 1, 510–515 (2015). DOI:  10.1021/acscentsci.5b00267.
• X. Sun, P. Bonnick, V. Duffort, Z. Rong, G. Ceder, K. Persson and L. F. Nazar, A high capacity thiospinel cathode for Mg-ion batteries, Energy Environ. Sci, 9, 2273-2277 (2016). DOI: 10.1039/C6EE00724D.
• X. Liang, and L.F. Nazar, In-situ synthesis of scalable S/MnO₂ composites for high performance Li/S batteries ACS Nano, 10, 4192-4198 (2016).  DOI:  10.1021/acsnano.5b07458.
• D. Kundu, B. D. Adams, V. Duffort, S. Hosseini and L. F. Nazar, A high capacity and long-life aqueous rechargeable zinc battery using a metal oxide intercalation cathode, Nature Energy, 1: 16119 (2016).  DOI:  10.1038/NENERGY.2016.119
• Q. Pang, X. Liang, C. Y. Kwok, and L. F. Nazar, Coupling multifunctional sulfur composite with an in-situ cross-linked binder: a multifaceted approach towards stable high-areal-capacity Li-S batteries, Advanced Energy Mater, in press (2016).
• Q. Pang, X. Liang, C.Y. Kwok, L.F. Nazar*, Advances in Li-S batteries based on multifunctional cathodes and electrolytes, Nature Energy, 1: 16132 (2016). DOI: 10.1038/NENERGY.2016.132 

Please see Linda Nazar's Google Scholar profile for a current list of her peer-reviewed articles.

Recent patents include

• L.F. Nazar and L. Zhou, Solution processing of lithium ion solid state electrolytes, filed by BASF SE May 1, 2018. 

• L. F. Nazar, B. Adams and D. Kundu, Aqueous Zn-ion batteries using a metallic zinc negative electrode and a composite oxide positive cathode, Provisional #62/230,502, filed June 8, 2015, PCT Electrode materials for rechargeable zinc cells and batteries produced therefrom, PCT/CA2016/050613, filed May 31, 2016; US patent, filed March 23, 2017.

• L.F. Nazar and X. Liang, In situ lithium protection for lithium anode batteries, filed by BASF SE, Eur. Pat. 16168678.7, filed May 9, 2016.

• L. F. Nazar, B. Adams and D. Kundu, Aqueous Zn-ion batteries using a metallic zinc negative electrode and a composite oxide positive cathode, PCT patent application filed June 8, 2016.

• L.F. Nazar and X. Liang, Core-shell particles comprising elemental sulfur and manganese dioxide for cathodes of lithium sulfur cells and the synthesis of these particles, filed jointly with BASF SE, July 15^th, 2015.
• L.F. Nazar, and X. Liang, Composites comprising polar inorganics for cathodes of lithium sulfur cells, filed jointly with BASF SE, June 6^th, 2014.
• L.F. Nazar, X. Liang and C. Hart, Composites comprising nanosheets of a transition metal oxide for cathodes of lithium sulfur cells, filed jointly with BASF SE, April 1^st, 2014.
• T. Song, R. Black, L.F. Nazar, U. Paik, Porous carbon inverse opal structure electrode for Li- air batteries, filed Oct 24, 2013 by E-Sang Patent and Trademark (Korea) and WATCO.

• Canadian Institute of Canada (CIC) Medal, 2019
• Clarivate Analytics' (formerly Thomson-Reuters) Highly Cited Researcher in both the fields of Chemistry and Materials Science, 2018
• Finalist, Energy category, World Technology Awards, 2018
• Outstanding Performance Award, 2017
• Senior Canada Research Chair in Solid State Energy Materials, 2004-present
• University Professor, 2016
• Officer, Order of Canada, 2015
• Web of Science Highly Cited Researchers 2014 and 2016, and 2014 World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds (Thomson-Reuters), 2014
• August-Wilhelm-von-Hofmann Lectureship (German Chemical Society), 2013
• IUPAC Distinguished Women in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, 2012
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, 2011
• International Battery Association Award, 2011
• Rio Tinto Alcan Award for Electrochemistry, Canadian Society for Chemistry, 2010
• Moore Distinguished Scholar, California Institute of Technology (USA), 2009-10
• Electrochemical Society Battery Division Research Award, 2009
• Exxon Postdoctoral Fellowship, Exxon Corporate Research Labs, USA, 1984
• NSERC Canada Postdoctoral Fellowship (declined), 1984
• NSERC Graduate Scholarship, 1978-82
• Royal Chemical Society Undergraduate Award, UBC, 1978

• Cross-appointed to the Departments of Electrical and Chemical Engineering
• Cross-appointed to the Department of Physics and Astronomy
• Member of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology

• Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, ACS Central Science, 2016-present
• Member of the board of Directors, International Meeting on Li-Batteries, 2014-present
• Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, Angewandte Chemie, 2011-present
• Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, J. Materials Chemistry A, 2010-present
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Board, SUNY Energy Frontiers Research Centre, USA, 2010-17
• Guest Editor, Materials Research Society Series, 2014-15
• Member of the Directorate, Department of Energy’s Joint Centre for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) Hub, USA, 2014-15
• Board Member and Advisor, Northeastern Energy Frontiers Research Centre, USA, 2008-12
• DOE Panel Review member for the BATT program, 2010-2012
• Guest Editor for a special edition of the MRS Bulletin on Electrical Energy Storage to Power the 21st Century, 2010-11
• Guest Editor for a themed edition of the Journal of Materials Chemistry on Advanced Materials for Lithium Batteries, 2010-11
• Co-organizer for the 2011 European MRS Symposium on Large-Scale Energy Storage, 2010-11

The following news stories have featured Linda Nazar's research:

• August 23, 2018: Chemists make breakthrough on road to creating a rechargeable lithium-oxygen battery

• December 12, 2017: Waterloo Chemists develop batteries to triple the range of electric vehicles

• August 26, 2016:  Waterloo chemists develop promising cheap, sustainable grid energy storage

• June 17, 2016: Prominent Waterloo chemist appointed University Professor at Spring Convocation

• February 17, 2016:  Chemist Linda Nazar receives Officer for the Order of Canada medal

• May 27, 2015: Chemists discover key reaction mechanism behind the highly touted sodium-oxygen battery

• August 1, 2014:  Waterloo chemist among world's most highly cited researchers

• September 9, 2011: Linda Nazar elected to Royal Society of Canada

1984 PhD Chemistry, University of Toronto, ON

1978 B.Sc. Honours Chemistry, University of British Columbia, AB