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Prof. Kulik will describe their efforts to accelerate the discovery of novel transition metal containing materials using machine learning. She will discuss how they have leveraged experimental data sets through both text mining and semantic embedding to uncover relationships between structure and function in molecular catalysts and metal-organic frameworks. Then she will describe how they have leveraged large datasets of synthesized materials to uncover those with novel function in polymer networks. She will describe how they demonstrate the success of their design strategy through macroscopically visible changes in network scale properties.

Decarbonizing transportation, the grid, and heavy industries depends on the success of both short- and long-duration energy storage solutions. Through novel material design and chemistry, my lab addresses critical challenges in developing affordable, sustainable, and reliable energy storage technologies. For short (to medium)-duration storage, we design and develop new cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries rich in manganese and iron. Our goal is to achieve energy densities comparable to lithium-ion batteries but at lower costs, without relying on critical minerals, thereby accelerating the transition to more sustainable energy storage. For long-duration storage, we have developed groundbreaking pathways for producing hydrogen (H₂) and ammonia (NH₃) using subsurface chemistry. By harnessing redox reactions on Fe-rich rocks and utilizing the Earth's natural heat and pressure, we demonstrate the potential for stimulated geological H₂ and NH₃ production. These methods achieve near-zero CO₂ emissions while remaining cost-competitive with existing technologies. Our work integrates advanced materials design with sustainable chemistry to provide scalable, impactful solutions for a decarbonized future.

Catarina Madeira
Director, MIT Startup Exchange