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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear Cullen College Community, </span></div>
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<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Welcome as we begin the Spring semester. The weekly joint seminar series will resume on the 19<sup>th</sup>,
and we hope to see you there. Please make note of the new time. Seminars on Friday will now be held from
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><b><u>1:00 – 2:00 pm</u></b></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> on Friday.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b> </b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b>Materials Engineering Program</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b>Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b>Center for Integrated Bio and Nano Systems</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black; background-color: yellow;"><b>1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, Friday, January 19, 2024</b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"><b> </b></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(192, 0, 0); background-color: white;"><b>Enabling Ambient Sodium Sulfur Batteries</b></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(10, 5, 5); background-color: yellow;"><b>January 19, 2024</b></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: red; background-color: yellow;"><b>In Person Only,
</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 112, 192); background-color: yellow;"><b>1:00 – 2:00 pm</b></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(10, 5, 5); background-color: white;">Houston Science Center (HSC), Rm.102</span></p>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(192, 0, 0); background-color: white;"><b>Dr. Rachel Carter</b></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(10, 5, 5); background-color: white;">U.S. Naval Research Laboratory</span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(10, 5, 5); background-color: white;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(10, 5, 5); background-color: white;"><b>Abstract</b>: Sodium and sulfur
are globally abundant, inexpensive materials with high theoretical energy density (3X Li-ion by mass and 4X by volume). However, operation of sodium-sulfur batteries in ambient conditions is not realized due to its complex, multistep conversion reaction. In
order to better understand the fundamental mechanisms of the reaction, we utilize unique in-situ spectroscopy and optical microscopy. Next, to identify the proper media for the reaction to occur reliably in ambient conditions, we isolate the cathode and anode
reactions, to simplify the system complexity and stabilize each component. On the sulfur cathode side, we investigate highly tailorable carbon nanofoam papers (CNFPs) to (1) host active sulfur material, (2) transport electrical current and (3) accommodate
the volume expansion of the conversion reaction.<sup>1</sup> We also explore selenium doping to enhance electrical conductivity while participating in electrochemical conversion. At the sodium anode, we investigate plating and stripping behaviors<sup>2</sup> and
identify distinct behaviors from its alkaline neighbor, lithium. Based on these observations we are using DFT calculations, cyclic voltammetry, Ultrafast spectroscopy, and NMR examine sodium deposition at various length and time scales. Building on our findings
at each electrode, we hope to enable a functioning ambient sodium-sulfur battery.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(10, 5, 5); background-color: white;"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-weight: normal;">Neale, Z.G.; Lefler, M.J.; Long, J.W.; Rolison, D.R.; Sassin, M.B.; Carter, R.;
</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-weight: normal;">Freestanding Carbon Nanofoam Papers with Tunable Porosity as Lithium-Sulfur Battery Cathodes.
<i>Nanoscale</i>, </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;">2023</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.35pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-weight: normal;">,
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black; background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">DOI:
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NR02699J__;!!LkSTlj0I!BoWlXiILtJAsTBNZYpY-itfnTB02Zmi8IkaGF2B2LCqlpIUiYs8L9CAY0V0lrB74qBHHtbFLVzS5R2qIu15zvwCKtD0$" id="OWA6fa5a424-e37f-9dc0-49cd-9f7df1557159" class="OWAAutoLink" title="Link to landing page via DOI" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-loopstyle="linkonly">
10.1039/D3NR02699J</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-weight: normal;">.</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Sarkar, S.; Lefler, M.J.; Vishnugopi, B. Nuwayhid, R.B.; Love, C.T.; Carter. R.; Mukherjee, P.P.; Fluorinated ethylene carbonate as additive to glyme electrolytes
for robust sodium solid electrolyte interface. <i>Cell Reports Physical Science</i>,
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2023</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">, 4, 101356.</span></h1>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 4pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(10, 5, 5); background-color: white;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(10, 5, 5); background-color: white;"><b>Bio</b>: Rachel Carter is Research
Mechanical Engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). Prior to this role she has held the positions Karles Distinguished Scholar Fellow and National Research Council postdoctoral fellow at NRL. In fall of 2019 she was awarded the MRS Postdoctoral
Award. Rachel received her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University in 2017. Her dissertation research focused on material and processing challenges for alkali-sulfur batteries, which boast 6X the energy of Li-ion with lower cost and more
environmentally friendly materials.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(10, 5, 5); background-color: white;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(10, 5, 5); background-color: white;">At NRL Rachel continues to work
on sulfur chemistries, while also focusing on safer and more effective uses of conventional Li-ion batteries. In her 9 years as an energy storage researcher, she has published 61 peer-reviewed articles (h-index 34, i10-index 50) and obtained 3 patents. In
2019 Rachel was recognized by Nature as a top 5 emerging material scientist. In efforts to support women in STEM, Rachel was a co-founder of the Partnership of Women across the Naval Research Enterprise and has had the opportunity to mentor many young female
researchers from the high school to graduate level.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: black;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);">For more information:</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Xiaonan Shan, Ph.D.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Assistant Professor</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Electrical and Computer Engineering Department</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">University of Houston</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Houston, TX 77204, USA</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Tel: 713-743-8593</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Email:
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 120, 215);"><a href="mailto:xshan@central.uh.edu" id="OWA1a07ad42-1a9b-4e8c-6164-ff863207a5d8" class="OWAAutoLink" title="mailto:xshan@central.uh.edu" data-loopstyle="linkonly" style="color: rgb(0, 120, 215); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">xshan@central.uh.edu</a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left; margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Web:
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 120, 215); background-color: white;"><a href="http://shanlab.ece.uh.edu/" id="OWA143f79ce-fd2d-dc85-bd6b-d7235133ec12" class="OWAAutoLink" title="http://shanlab.ece.uh.edu/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-loopstyle="linkonly" style="color: rgb(0, 120, 215); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">http://shanlab.ece.uh.edu/</a></span></p>
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