Zuzanna Siwy, Ph.D.

Zuzanna Siwy, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy

University of California, Irvine

Speech Title:

Nanopores as a tool to understand transport processes in energy storage systems

Abstract:

Nanopores have become a model system to understand transport properties at the nanoscale. We utilize pores with controlled geometry and surface chemistry to probe structural and electrochemical properties of electrode materials and electrolytes used in batteries. Experiments with manganese oxide, organic and solid electrolytes will be presented. Physics of ionic transport at the nanoscale will be discussed in detail.

Bio:

Dr. Zuzanna S. Siwy received her Ph.D. in 1997 from the Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland, and habilitation in 2004. From 2000–2003 she was a Fellow of the Foundation for Polish Science, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at the Institute for Heavy Ions Research (GSI) in Darmstadt, Germany. After conducting postdoctoral research at the University of Florida, Gainesville, in July 2005, Dr. Siwy joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. In 2007, she became the Fellow of the Alfred von Sloan Foundation. In 2009, Dr. Siwy was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers as well as the Bessel Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Her current research interests focus on using synthetic nanopores as templates for biomimetic channels as well as ionic diodes and ionic transistors.