Linda Nazar

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, Professor 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.

Professor Nazar holds the Canada Research Chair in Solid State Energy Materials since 2004, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society (UK) in recognition of her excellence in research. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

• Solid state electrochemistry
• Li-ion Na-ion Zn-ion Mg-ion batteries
• Li-S and Li-O2 batteries
• Nanostructured materials
• X-ray and neutron diffraction
• Energy storage materials
• Smart Materials
• Energy Materials
• Next Generation Energy Systems
• Next Generation Batteries

• 1984, PhD, Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada
• 1978, BSc, Honours Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Canada

• 2004-present, Senior Canada Research Chair in Solid State Energy Materials
• 2022, Highly Cited Researcher, Clarivate
• 2022, Steacie Award, Chemical Institute of Canada
• 2014-2022, Highly Cited Researcher (Chemistry and Materials), Web of Science
• 2021, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
• 2020, Fellow and Foreign Member of the Royal Society (UK)
• 2020, Material Research Society (MRS) Medal (co-awarded with Yi Cui from Stanford University)
• 2019, Bailar Lecture, Mat. Sci., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• 2019, Canadian Institute of Canada (CIC) Medal
• 2018, Department of Energy Secretary's Honor Award (USA)
• 2018, Finalist, Energy Category, World Technology Awards
• 2018, Dorn Lecture, Mat. Sci, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
• 2017, Outstanding Performance Award, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo
• 2017, International Automotive Lithium Battery Award
• 2016, University Professor, University of Waterloo
• 2015, Officer, Order of Canada
• 2014, World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds, Thomson-Reuters
• 2013, August-Wilhelm-von-Hofmann Lectureship, German Chemical Society
• 2012, IUPAC Distinguished Women in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
• 2011, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
• 2011, International Battery Association Award
• 2010, Rio Tinto Alcan Award for Electrochemistry, Canadian Society for Chemistry
• 2010, Moore Distinguished Scholar, California Institute of Technology (USA)
• 2009, Electrochemical Society Battery Division Research Award
• 1984-1986, Exxon Postdoctoral Fellowship, Exxon Corporate Research Labs, USA
• 1978-1982, NSERC Graduate Scholarship
• 1978, Royal Chemical Society Undergraduate Award, UBC

• 2020-present, Member of the Advisory Council, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University
• 2013-present, Lead Scientist, Joint Centre for Energy Storage Research, USA
• 2013-present, Member of the Directorate, DOE Joint Centre for Energy Storage Research Hub, USA
• 2020, Expert Witness, legal case USA (battery patent infringement and invalidity): SK Innovation/SK Battery America vs LG Chem Ltd/LG Energy Solution, Ltd
• 2017-2018, Chair, NSERC Industrial Research Chair Renewal Committee
• Member of the Scientific International Advisory Board to the French Research Network on Electrochemical Energy Storage (RS2E) (France)
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Board to the Israel National Research Centre for Electrochemical Propulsion (INREP)
• Member of the Editorial Board, Matter
• Member of the Editorial Board, Batteries and Supercaps (Wiley, Germany)
• Member of the Editorial Board, Energy & Environmental Science (UK)
• Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, ACS Central Science (USA)
• Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, IONICS (Germany)

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

• CHEM 310 - Transition Element Compounds and Inorganic Materials
  • Taught in 2022, 2023, 2024

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• View all Linda Nazar's publications on Google Scholar.
• C.Y. Kwok, Shiqi Xu, I. Kochetkov, Laidong Zhou, L. F. Nazar, High-Performance All-Solid-State Li2S Batteries Using an Interfacial Redox Mediator. Energy Environ. Sci., on-line. DOI: 10.1039/D2EE03297J.
• E.P. Ramos, A. Assoud, A. Shyamsunder, L. Zhou, D. Rettenwander, L.F. Nazar*, 2023, Structure-transport correlations in Na11Sn2SbSe12 and its sulfide solid solutions. APL Mater, in press.
• E. P. Ramos, A. Assoud, N. Kim, Kotchetkov, L. Wan and L.F. Nazar, 2023, Triggering fast Li-ion conduction in Li4PS4I, ACS Mater. Lett., in press.10.1021/acsmaterialslett.2c00821.
• L. Blanc, Y. Y. Choi, A. Shysamsunder, S. Lapidus, B. Key, C. Bartel, G. Ceder*, L.F. Nazar* et al., 2022. Phase stability and kinetics of topotactic dual Ca2+-Na+ ion electrochemistry in NaSICON NaV2(PO4)3. Chem. Mater., in press. 10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c02816.
• T.-T. Zuo, F. Walther, J. H. Teo, R. Ruess, Yubo Wang, M. Rohnke, D. Schroeder, L.F. Nazar, J. Janek, 2022. Impact of the chlorination of lithium argyrodites on the electrolyte/cathode interface in solid-state batteries, Angewandte Chemie, in press. DOI: 10.1002/anie.202213228 and 10.1002/ange.202213228.
• Erika P. Ramos, J. David Bazak, Abdeljalil Assoud, Ashfia Huq, Gillian Goward*, and Linda F. Nazar*, 2022, Structure of the Solid-State Electrolyte Li3+2xP1-xAlxS4: Lithium Ion Transport Properties in Crystalline vs Glassy phases, ACS AMI, in press. 10.1021/acsami.2c16776.
• L. Zhou, Q. Zhang, L.F. Nazar*. Li-Rich and Halide-Deficient Argyrodite Fast Ion Conductors, 2022, Chem. Mater, 34, 21, 9634-9643. 10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c02343.
• I. Kochetkov, T.-T. Zuo, R. Ruess, B. Singh, L. Zhou, K. Kaup, J. Janek*, L.F. Nazar*, 2022, Different interfacial reactivity of lithium metal chloride electrolytes with high voltage cathodes determines solid-state battery performance, Energy Environ. Sci., 15, 3933-3944.
• Q. Pang, J. Meng, S. Gupta, C.Y. Kwok, J. Zhao, Y. Jin, L. Xu, Ö. Karahan, Z. Wang, S. Toll, L.Mai, L. F. Nazar, M. Balasubramanian, B. Narayanan, D. R. Sadoway*, 2022, Fast-charging aluminium-chalcogen batteries resistant to dendrite formation, Nature, 608, 704-711.
• C. Bauer, L.F. Nazar et al., 2022. Charging sustainable batteries. Nature Sustainability, 5, 176-178. DOI: 10.1038/s41893-022-00864-1.
• C. Li, S. Jin, L.A. Archer and L.F. Nazar*, 2022. Towards practical aqueous Zn-ion batteries for stationary grid storage. Joule, 6, 1733-1738.
• C. Li, A. Shyamsunder, A. G. Hoane, D. M. Long, C.Y. Kwok, P. G. Kotula, K. Zavadil, A. Gewirth*, and L.F. Nazar*, 2022. Highly reversible Zn anode with a practical areal capacity enabled by a sustainable electrolyte and superacid interfacial chemistry. Joule, 6, 1103-1120.
• L. Zhou, T.-T. Zuo, C. Y. Kwok, S. Y. Kim, A. Assoud, Q. Zhang, J. Janek, L. F. Nazar*, 2022, High areal capacity long cycle life 4 V ceramic all-solid-state Li ion batteries enabled by chloride solid electrolytes, Nature Energy, 7, 83–93. DOI: 10.1038/s41560-021-00952-0.
• C. Li, R. Kingsbury, L. Zhou, A. Shyamsunder, K. Persson, L.F. Nazar*, 2022. Tuning the solvation structure in aqueous zinc batteries to maximize Zn-ion intercalation and optimize dendrite-free zinc plating, ACS Energy Lett, 7, 533-540.
• Z. Zhang and L.F. Nazar*, 2022, Exploiting the Paddle-Wheel Mechanism for the Design of Fast Ion Conductors, invited, Nature Mater. Rev., 7, 389 - 405. DOI: 10.1038/s41578-021-00401-0.

• L.F. Nazar, E.P. Ramos. Non-Argyrodite Superionic Lithium Thiophosphate Halide Solid Electrolytes, provisional filed by UWaterloo Dec 6, 2022. USPTO # not yet assigned.
• L.F. Nazar, Z. Lu. Solid state Li-S battteries with stabilized solid electrolyte, PCT filed by Conamix, Oct 14, 2022. Conamix Ref.: CMX-039 P1.
• L. F. Nazar, L. Zhou, X. Wu, Inorganic lithium ion solid electrolyte and coating material and process for preparation thereof, joint IP with BASF SE. Eur. Pat. 20 16 6835.7 & 20 17 0190.1 Filed 30 Mar 2020 and 17 Apr 2020. PCT/EP2021/058167.
• L.F. Nazar, S.Y. Kim, X. Wu, Solid lithium ion conducting materials containing ytterbium and process for preparation thereof, joint IP with BASF SE. Eur. Pat. 20 20 2273.7 Filed Oct 16, 2020.
• L.F. Nazar, K.H. Park, X. Wu, J. Kulisch. Inorganic lithium ion conductive solid halide electrolyte and method for producing solid halide electrolyte material, joint IP with BASF SE. Eur. Pat 19 2827728.7 Filed Nov 07, 2019. PCT/EP2020/081116.
• L.F. Nazar, S. Xu, C.Y. Kwok, All solid state lithium sulfur batteries enabled by hybrid cathode architecture, filed July 24, 2020. USPTO #63/103,229.
• L.F. Nazar, P. Adeli, Z. Zhang, J. Kulisch, X. Wu. Substituted argyrodite solid electrolytes, joint IP with BASF SE, Filed Jan 6, 2020. Eur. Pat. 20 16 9037.7 PCT/EP2021/059132.
• L.F. Nazar and K.H. Park, Lithium metal halide solid electrolyte coatings, joint IP with BASF SE. Eur. Pat 19 18 8258.1 Filed Sept 25, 2019.
• L. F. Nazar, L. Zhou, J. Kulisch. Antimony argryodite solid electrolytes with ultra high ion conductivity, joint IP with BASF SE. Eur. Pat. 19 18 8154.9 Filed July 24, 2019. Secondary PCT filings (EP, CN, JP, KR, and US). PCT/EP2021/058167.
• L.F. Nazar, K. Kaup and J. Kulisch, Haloboro-oxysulfide glass solid electrolytes, joint IP with BASF SE June 17, 2019. Eur. Pat. 19 18 0687.6, Filed June 17, 2019. Secondary PCT filings (EP, CN, JP, KR, and US).
• L.F. Nazar, C.Y. Kwok and M. Gauthier, Cross-linked binders for cathode binders for Li-S cells, provisional filed by UWaterloo May 24, 2019. USPTO #62/920,942.
• L.F. Nazar and L. Zhou, Process for synthesis of solid lithium ion conductor from ethanol solution, joint IP with BASF SE Eur. Pat. 18 19 0512.6, filed Aug 30, 2018. Secondary PCT filings (EP, CN, JP, KR, and US).
• 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 2017/0250449A1 patent granted published August 4, 2017.
• L.F. Nazar and X. Liang, In situ lithium protection for lithium anode batteries, joint IP with BASF SE, Eur. Pat. 16168678.7, filed May 9, 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, joint IP with BASF SE, filed July 15th, 2015.
• L.F. Nazar and X. Liang, Composites comprising MXenes for cathodes of lithium sulfur cells, #WO 16012275, joint IP with BASF SE filed July 22, 2014.
• L.F. Nazar, and X. Liang, Composites comprising polar inorganics for cathodes of lithium sulfur cells, joint IP with BASF SE, filed June 6th , 2014.
• L.F. Nazar, X. Liang and C. Hart, Composites comprising nanosheets of a transition metal oxide for cathodes of lithium sulfur cells, #WO 2015/150144, joint IP with BASF SE, filed April 1st, 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. Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0127101; joint patent, H01M 4/1393 (2015).
• T. Song, H. Park, R. Black, L.F. Nazar, U. Paik, High temperature pyrolyzed carbon nanofibers air electrode for Li-air batteries, filed Oct 24, 2013 by E-Sang Patent and Trademark (Korea) and WATCO. Korean Patent Application No. 2013-0127111, joint patent, H01M 4/133 (2015).
• L.F. Nazar, D. Ji, K.T. Lee, M. Richard and K. Stamm, Sulfur-Carbon Material, US Patent 8,173,302, granted May 8, 2012. South Korean Patent 10-1384630, granted April 7, 2014. Australian Patent 2009223442, granted May 15, 2014.
• L.F. Nazar, and D. Ji, Curbing Polysulfides in Li-S Cathodes, USA Prov. Application, filed July 2, 2010.
• L.F. Nazar, K.T. Lee, Sodium-Ion Battery Cathodes, US Patent Application, filed Oct 2, 2009.
• L.F. Nazar, W.M. Makahnouk, B. Ellis, K. Toghill, and Y. Makimura, Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Materials, US Application patent 11/946,038 filed Nov. 27, 2007.
• L.F. Nazar, D.C.S. Souza, V. Pralong, New Electrode Materials for Rechargeable Electrochemical Cells, International PCT/CA02/00016, Filed February 25, 2002, awarded February 25, 2003.

• February 24, 2022: Linda Nazar discovers new electrolyte for solid-state lithium-ion batteries