Don Sadoway is theJohn F. Elliott Professor of Materials Chemistry at MIT. Professor Sadoway’s research seeks to establish the scientific underpinnings for technologies that make efficient use of energy and natural resources in an environmentally sound manner. This spans engineering applications and the supportive fundamental science. The overarching theme of his work is electrochemistry in nonaqueous media.

Specific topics in applied research are the following: environmentally sound electrochemical extraction and recycling of metals, lithium solid-polymer-electrolyte batteries, advanced materials for use as electrodes, separators, and walls in fused-salt electrolysis cells and batteries, electrochemical sensors, electrochemical synthesis of thin films of compound semiconductors in fused-salt and cryogenic media, and electrochemically controlled superconducting devices.

Related to these are the following topics in fundamental research: the physical chemistry and electrochemistry of molten salts (including molten oxides), cryogenic electrolytes, and solid polymer electrolytes.