Stanford Energy Student Lectures – Ion-selective membranes and 3D-printed carbon structures

Join us as grad student/postdoc speakers from various technical areas deliever short and accessible presentations about their innovative clean energy research. Learn more about cutting-edge science and the most recent breakthroughs in areas such as renewables, energy conversion materials and devices, catalysis, and decarbonization from the researchers themselves!

Refreshments will be provided starting at 2:45pm. Share your feedback on the speakers for a chance to win a Coupa gift card!

Speaker Topics:

Wylie Kau - A hybrid design framework for ion-selective membranes in critical mineral separations

Abstract:

Growth of critical mineral (CM) demand driven by rapid deployment of lithium-ion batteries, renewables, and data centers has outpaced conventional CM supply chains. One solution is the separation and generation of high-purity CM products from industrial wastewaters (i.e., industrial wastewater refining), which requires specific ion selectivity. Ion-selective membrane separations are distinctly promising due to advantages in scalability and reduced energy consumption compared to alternatives like distillation. Ligand functionalized polymer membranes (LFPMs) achieve ion selectivity beyond size-sieving and electrostatic effects through coordinative interactions between ions and polymer-grafted ligand molecules, but no structure-function relationships yet exist that relate ligand identity and polymer structure to selectivity. In this work, we developed a hybrid, data-driven and experimental design framework to quantitatively link LFPM structure to partitioning selectivity in a library of 5 distinct LFPM chemistries. Our framework is built upon a dual mode sorption model that describes ion partitioning as a function of ligand identity and polymer structure, utilizing machine learning to predict ion-ligand coordination affinity. Our model can play a key role in accelerated LFPM design, allowing researchers to bypass trial-and-error experimentation and identify promising chemistries at the speed and scale to match increasing CM demand.

Speaker bio:

Wylie Kau is a 3rd year PhD candidate in Prof. Will Tarpeh's lab, where he works to develop ion selective materials for critical mineral separations in industrial wastewater refining. His research interests span the application of machine learning methods in selective material design frameworks, process development for novel electrochemical reactive-separations, and technoeconomic analysis to links process-level economic evaluation to material design objectives. Prior to Stanford, Wylie received his B.S. in chemical engineering at the University of Washington in 2020 and worked for 3 years at a perovskite solar startup before starting his PhD in 2023. Fun fact: Wylie rode his bike from Seattle to Palo Alto over 3 weeks before starting at Stanford along the pacific coast bike route.

 

Philip Onffroy - Micro-Architected 3D Printed Carbon Materials for Energy Storage and Inertial Fusion Energy

Abstract:

This presentation explores how micro-architected 3D printed carbon materials can enable next-generation energy technologies, from electrochemical energy storage to inertial fusion energy systems. As growing electricity demands from artificial intelligence and electrification place increasing pressure on global energy infrastructure, there is a critical need for advanced materials that combine scalability, precision, and multifunctional performance.

Using light-based additive manufacturing and high-temperature pyrolysis, we develop tunable carbon lattices with microscale structural control and customizable composition. These architected materials overcome limitations of conventional bulk carbon forms by enabling deterministic porosity, improved ion transport, and tailored electrochemical behavior. I will discuss recent advances in polyacrylonitrile-derived carbon lattices, including methods to enhance surface area, conductivity, and electrochemical activity for battery and capacitor applications.

The talk will also highlight emerging work on deterministic fuel capsule architectures for inertial fusion energy, where precisely engineered 3D printed carbon structures may enable scalable, high-throughput target manufacturing with improved symmetry and reproducibility.

By bridging additive manufacturing, carbon materials science, and energy systems engineering, this work demonstrates how architected materials can address key challenges in scalable clean energy technologies and advanced energy infrastructure.

Speaker bio:

Philip R. Onffroy is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering at Stanford University in the laboratory of Joseph M. DeSimone. His research focuses on the intersection of 3D printing and pyrolysis for the fabrication of polymer-derived carbon micro-architected materials for sustainable industry and energy applications. His work investigates how chemical composition, lattice geometry, and thermal processing influence the electrochemical, mechanical, and structural properties of high-surface-area carbon materials for applications including energy storage and inertial fusion energy systems.

Prior to Stanford, Philip earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Bucknell University, where he conducted research in polymer processing and sustainable materials manufacturing. His previous experience includes internships at the U.S. D.O.E Argonne National Laboratory, Admetsys, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Philip is a 2023 Knight-Hennessy Scholars scholar and recipient of a 2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program and a 2021 Barry Goldwater Scholarship.