Knowledge Transfer Highlight: Computational materials science drives the

1. Knowledge Transfer Highlight: Computational materials science drives the development of new energy storage materials and establishes the intellectual framework of the 2011 Materials Genome Initiative Michael F. Rubner, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, DMR 0819762 New materials development is critical to future innovation in energy related technologies but it can take years before useful materials are identified and studied. Professor Ceder of the MIT MRSEC has been pioneering the use of high-throughput computing as a means to greatly accelerate materials innovation in the energy sector. Using first principles modeling, for example, materials that exhibit more than a ten-fold increase in capacity under high rate conditions have been discovered (Science, 311, 977, 2006) as well as battery materials with ultra-fast charging and discharging abilities (Nature, 458, 190, 2009). In 2009, Prof. Ceder received the MRS Medal “for pioneering the high-impact field of first-principles thermodynamics of battery materials and for the development of high-power density Lithium battery compounds”. His work in this area helped to establish the intellectual framework for President Obama’s recently launched (2011) Materials Genome Initiative.