Join us for “Illuminating Energy Materials with X-ray Scattering” a keynote presentation by Dr. Tao Li, College of Engineering – Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, MizzouForward faculty candidate.  Dr. Li will present on his research for approximately 40-minutes with a 20-minute question and answer session to follow.

Dr. Tao Li got his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 2009, followed by a postdoctoral position at Advanced Photon Source (APS) of Argonne National Laboratory until 2013, when he was promoted to Assistant Scientist. Making a significant career move in 2018, he joined Northern Illinois University as an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, concurrently holding a joint position at APS. In 2022, he was promoted to associate professor. Dr. Li's research prowess is evidenced by securing numerous grants, including nine NSF and several DOE grants, and publishing over 200 papers. He currently holds seven active projects funded by NSF and one project funded by DOE as PI.  In addition, he is co-PI of the Energy Earth Research Center (EERC) and the solid-state battery project financed by the DOE-EERE-VTO office. Notably, in 2023, he was awarded the only battery project in the prestigious NSF Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future (DMREF) program, an integral component of the U.S. Materials Genome Initiative. He was also co-PI of joint center energy storage hub. JCESR.  His contributions have been recognized with the ACS Emerging Research Award in 2022 form energy and fuel division (ENFL), and he was selected to be the class of 2022 Illinois Science & Technology Coalition Researchers to know in the field of energy technology.

The growing demand for cutting-edge energy technologies has spurred advancements in materials and chemical processes crucial for energy storage and novel energy production from traditional sources. To meet these challenges, there is an urgent need for materials with exceptional functionality. Energy materials, particularly batteries, are pivotal in this pursuit. In his forthcoming presentation, he will delve into recent breakthroughs in battery electrolytes from our research. Central to their discoveries are the sophisticated ex-situ and in-situ characterization techniques utilizing synchrotron radiation. These techniques have been instrumental in unraveling the intricate properties of battery electrolytes, offering precise insights that are indispensable for enhancing energy storage efficiency and developing sustainable energy solutions.

You can access Dr. Li’s CV via OneDrive here:   Tao Li CV 2025 1-27 Final.pdf  (University log in required to access)

After the keynote, please provide candidate feedback with our brief survey.