Linda Nazar

University Professor & Canada Research Chair in Solid State Energy Materials

Linda Nazar carries out research in inorganic materials chemistry, solid state chemistry and electrochemistry. Her research is focused on the development of electrochemical energy storage devices and materials.

One of the most interesting aspects of materials chemistry is the design of structures with specific physical properties. Using guided principles, Prof. Nazar’s team synthesizes new materials, determines their structures and investigates their physical properties. She is, in particular, interested in ion and electron transport in materials as these properties are central to solid state electrochemistry and energy storage batteries.

Her group is proficient in a range of methods and fields of investigation including X-ray and neutron diffraction, electrochemistry, ac impedance and solid state inorganic and nanomaterials synthesis.

Linda was recently named an Officer for the Order of Canada in recognition of her excellence in research. She holds the Canada Research Chair in Solid State Energy Materials, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Contact information
Office: QNC 4609
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 84637
Email: lfnazar@uwaterloo.ca
Website: Linda Nazar

Expertise

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

Research

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.

Teaching

Recent course offerings have included

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

Highlighted Publications

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.

Patents

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.

Awards and Distinctions

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

University of Waterloo Affiliations

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

Professional Associations and Service

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