Professor Hui (Claire) Xiong from the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering and Boise State University alumni Pete Barnes from the Idaho National Laboratory have been honored with the 2024 Charles Hatchett Award.
This prestigious award recognizes their groundbreaking research on the role of niobium oxide in creating high-performance anode materials for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries. The pair’s innovative work highlights the potential of niobium to enhance battery efficiency, paving the way for advancements in energy storage technology.
“We are very honored and humbled to receive the award,” Xiong said. “This award also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations that move science forward. The future of niobium-based battery technologies is bright.”
The Hatchett Award builds on Xiong’s impressive track record of research excellence in advanced functional nanomaterials for sustainable energy systems at Boise State. Xiong, and her former doctoral student Barnes, have explored innovative ways to enhance the performance and sustainability of energy storage technologies, like lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.
In the last six years, the winning research has shifted to reflect the growing interest in niobium’s role in supporting the energy transition and green technologies. Xiong and Barnes’ research is the third straight year batteries and energy storage systems have won the award.
This focus aligns with Xiong’s broader research portfolio in the College of Engineering, which spans the development of next-generation batteries, materials for extreme environments, and advanced materials characterization. Her work has also been integral to fostering collaborations with national laboratories and industry partners, such as the Idaho National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Pete Barnes, a scientist with the Idaho National Laboratory, is a former doctoral researcher who worked in Xiong’s Electrochemical Energy Materials Laboratory. His research with Xiong spans multiple years and includes work in which he was awarded the 2021 Distinguished Scholar Award by the Graduate College. His previous research explored new synthetic routes for novel metal oxide electrode materials for rechargeable batteries that has the potential to accelerate the discovery of new energy materials.
“Receiving the Charles Hatchett Award is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovative thinking. We stand upon the shoulders of giants and in tandem with the support of our colleagues,” Barnes said. “Working alongside Professor Xiong and the entire team has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and this recognition underscores the significance of our research in advancing our approach to producing energy materials. We are optimistic about the future possibilities that niobium-based technologies hold. I am excited to continue our collaboration and friendship while at the national laboratory.”
The pair’s latest award highlights the strong collaborative efforts between academic institutions and national laboratories to advance energy technologies. This research, through partnerships with the Idaho National Laboratory, places Boise State and its collaborators at the forefront of materials science and sustainable energy solutions.
Introduced over 40 years ago, the Charles Hatchett Award is sponsored by CBMM and recognizes research contributions that identify new applications and markets for niobium. The Hatchett Award brings together technical experts from around the world and is selected by a panel of international experts.